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We’re delighted to announce that we’ve achieved another milestone at the hotel – retaining our AA 4-star Silver Award with a new higher score.
Read on to find out what this means for our wonderful guests and visitors…
Here at the Hythe Imperial Hotel, we have some fantastic news!
After our latest hotel inspection, we’ve not only maintained our AA 4-star Silver Award. Better still, our official score has also gone up to an impressive 83% overall.
Numbers like this matter to us. But you might be thinking, what do they mean for you?
Put simply, it shows we’re always working hard to make your experience better, every single day.
Let us show you just how we maintain these standards for all our guests and visitors…
The AA hotel inspection is widely considered the benchmark of the British hospitality industry…
Their inspectors are known to visit anonymously, to get a true reflection of the hotel.
A 4-star rating already signals high standards across accommodation, service and facilities. But a Silver award goes even further. It highlights the hotels that consistently exceed expectations and “provide superior levels of quality, high standards of hotel keeping in particular hospitality, service and cleanliness”.
In short, these hotels offer an elevated quality of experience for their guests – in every area.
On top of this, the Silver Award is a mark of ‘Superior Quality’, according to the AA ratings system. And a high score of 83% shows a significant achievement within this elite category.
It places the Hythe Imperial at the very top tier of 4-star hotels in the country, operating on the cusp of the highest possible standards in that rating.
It also proves that we’re not resting on our laurels! Instead, we’re constantly refining the little details that turn a good stay into an unforgettable one.
One of the main reasons the AA 4-Star Hotel Silver Award is so special is that it recognises the hotel as a whole – not just the bedrooms.
And that includes our stunning Coast Restaurant too.
To hold the Silver Award status, a hotel must also have an AA Rosette for its restaurant. This means guests can expect cooking and service of a consistently high standard.
Our Coast Restaurant was awarded its first AA Rosette in 2016, and has maintained it ever since.
To earn this award, our restaurant chefs are “achieving standards that stand out in their local area, and feature food prepared with care, understanding and skill, with quality ingredients”.
With a choice of tempting menus and all dietary requirements catered for (when letting us know in advance) make sure you visit the Coast Restaurant.
It’s open to everyone, not just those staying the hotel – our Sunday Carvery is especially popular!
All in all, this means we’re not just a beautiful coastal hotel. You also get to enjoy award-winning dining, just a few steps from your room.
While this award is a wonderful stamp of approval for our hotel’s facilities and legacy, it’s also a reflection of the operational standards that are maintained day in, day out.
Our Managing Director, Nick Gauntlett, shared his thoughts on this achievement. He said:
“This recognition really showcases the great people who keep our historic hotel in operation every single day. It’s their commitment, usually behind the scenes, that has developed our standards across accommodation, food and service. It’s a powerful milestone in our long history and a credit to each member of staff.”
The word ‘Hythe’ means ‘Haven’ in Old English. And since 1880, our hotel has stood proudly on the edge of this market town, overlooking the English Channel.
It means we’re custodians of a rich history, but are still very much a forward-thinking hotel.
And our new, improved 4-star Silver Award proves that we can successfully blend the grandeur of the past, with the high standards of modern luxury.
We are constantly evolving, to ensure that every visit to the hotel is better than the last…
Whether you are a long-time guest at our hotel, or a first-time visitor, there has never been a better time to book a stay.
You can take a look at our range of bedrooms and suites. Or perhaps join us for a spa day, or an afternoon tea?
We are also one of the top wedding venues in Kent, opening our doors all year round to couples looking for a magical play to say, ‘I do’.
Whatever your reasons for visiting us, we invite you to come and enjoy the best-ever version of the Hythe Imperial Hotel!
12th December 2025
