THE five-star Chewton Glen hotel has been named the best in the country by the UK’s leading hoteliers.

It triumphed in the inaugural Hoteliers’ Hotels Top 100 list, unveiled by the Caterer and Sky.

The Chewton Glen, on the edge of the New Forest at New Milton, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The list was compiled by the UK’s leading hoteliers and verified by some of the nation’s pre-eminent hotel experts, including hotel journalist Fiona Duncan, Giovanna Grossi and fellow AA hotel inspectors, and senior editors at the Caterer. It was revealed at a reception at London’s Ham Yard hotel, which itself was ranked number 15.

Chewton Glen also won two more award categories, as Countryside Hotel of the Year and Spa Hotel of the Year.

Managing director Andrew Stembridge said: “I am truly humbled that so many of the good and the great of the industry chose to vote for Chewton Glen as their favourite hotel, especially knowing how many amazing properties there are to choose from.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for all of their votes and also their praise since winning. We are truly overwhelmed with the support for Chewton Glen and I really couldn’t be prouder.”

Amanda Afiya, editor of the Caterer, said “Hoteliers know their industry, its pitfalls and opportunities best, so who better to ask when compiling a list of the top hotels in the UK? We’re lucky to have so many wonderful hotels across UK and excited to be launching this list. There are, of course, many ways of ranking and evaluating hotels, but there’s nothing quite as special as peer-group recognition.”