VAN ZELLER, a new Harrogate restaurant, has picked up two coveted AA rosettes less than two months after opening.

Out of dozens of restaurants in the Spa town, Van Zeller will be only the third to hold a brace of the AA guide’s rosettes that are awarded to restaurants based on the quality of food.

Tom van Zeller said: “We have worked really hard over the first few months to try and impress Harrogate’s very knowledgeable diners, and we are obviously over the moon to have been recognised among the best of Harrogate’s many restaurants so early.” The intimate 32 cover restaurant on Montpellier Street was launched on Friday, February 13, with the backing of London-based restaurateur David Moore, who features as one of Raymond Blanc’s restaurant inspectors in the BBC2 series, The Restaurant.

Andrew Ford, AA area manager, North England, said: “We always try to track the progress of chefs who have previously received rosettes from us and we were delighted to see that Tom had gone on to open his own restaurant in his home town.

“We are very pleased not only that Tom has once again achieved two rosettes, but also that Harrogate will benefit from another excellent restaurant.” Van Zeller restaurant’s entry will appear in the new AA guide that will be published in September.