AN ISLE of Wight hotel has been awarded a prestigious Michelin Key — a new accolade.

Foresters Hall in Cowes was recognised at the inaugural ceremony for its outstanding service, architecture and contribution to its neighbourhood.

The Michelin Key is a new accolade introduced by the Michelin Guide, known for its restaurant star ratings, to honour hotels that provide exceptional stays.

The selection process involves five universal criteria — excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value in relation to the price and a significant contribution to the neighbourhood or setting.

(Image: Bell Photography) (Image: Bell Photography) Foresters Hall is the only hotel on the Isle of Wight to receive this honour.

The Michelin Guide said: "Hotels with Michelin Keys don’t just fulfil one of these criteria — these are the best of the best in all categories."

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The Michelin Guide's new initiative aims to provide a definitive and ever-evolving list of the most memorable restaurants and hotels throughout the world.

After selecting 5,000 hotels across the globe for the Michelin Guide, they have chosen to specially highlight the crème de la crème of their selection, with an award of one, two, or three Michelin Keys.

Foresters Hall joins the ranks of some of the owners Sara Curran and Peter Sussman's favourite hotels on the mainland, including Estelle Manor, The Soho Hotel and Chiltern Firehouse.

Sara said: "It is such an honour for Foresters Hall to be awarded one Michelin Key, which denotes a very special stay.

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"Needless to say, we are delighted to receive this important industry recognition and would like to thank our dedicated team for their talent and hard work to ensure that our guests enjoy a very special stay at Foresters Hall.

"We would also like to thank our many guests from around the world who are the reason we open our doors every day!"

The Michelin Guide made its first hotel recommendations in the 1920s and has included hotels in its guides in Europe and Asia ever since.

Four years ago, Michelin began a comprehensive refresh of their hotel selection, with a mission to provide a definitive (and ever-evolving) list of the most memorable restaurants and hotels throughout the world, all in one place.