Knutsford, Cheshire – LI~LY by Aiden Byrne is proud to announce that it has been awarded Three AA Rosettes for 2026, a prestigious accolade from The AA recognising outstanding restaurants that achieve standards demanding national recognition well beyond their local area.
The Three Rosette award is reserved for restaurants demonstrating exceptional culinary excellence. According to the AA’s criteria, these establishments show:
The selection and sympathetic treatment of the highest quality ingredients
Consistently excellent timing, seasoning and judgement of flavour combinations
Technical precision and creativity across the menu
Supporting elements such as intuitive service and a well-chosen wine list
This latest honour follows hot on the heels of LI~LY’s recent recognition in the MICHELIN Guide for Great Britain & Ireland 2025, further cementing its reputation as one of the region’s most exciting fine dining destinations.
Since opening in November 2024, LI~LY has quickly established itself as a culinary force in Cheshire and beyond. Housed within a beautifully restored 400-year-old black-and-white timbered building on King Street in Knutsford, the restaurant offers refined five- and nine-course tasting menus that evolve and flow naturally with the seasons.
Each menu is shaped by the very best seasonal British produce available at that moment, allowing the kitchen to showcase ingredients at their peak while delivering a dining experience that feels both contemporary and deeply connected to the rhythms of the year.
The AA inspectors were particularly impressed by the kitchen’s consistency, depth of flavour, and the seamless balance between technical excellence and creativity — all hallmarks of the Three Rosette standard.
Simon Numphud – Managing Director at AA Media commented – “Aiden Byrne delivers sensitive flavour combinations and a real sense of fun and enjoyment. Guests have the confidence knowing that Aiden is leading the kitchen, personally every day. Front of house a small family led team deliver knowledgeable service and the warmest of hospitality“
Aiden Byrne, Chef Patron of LI~LY, commented:
“To receive Three AA Rosettes is a phenomenal achievement for our whole team. It’s a recognition that speaks to consistency, precision and the complete guest experience, from the ingredients we carefully source to the service and wine that frame every dish.
Coming so soon after being recognised by The MICHELIN Guide, it feels like a truly special moment in LI~LY’s journey. We set out to create something that could stand confidently on a national stage while remaining rooted in Knutsford and the Northwest. I’m incredibly proud of our team, their dedication, attention to detail and passion is what makes accolades like this possible.”
LI~LY’s name pays homage to Knutsford’s own Lily River, symbolising the Byrnes’ connection to the town and its heritage. Blending contemporary elegance with historic charm, the restaurant offers an immersive tasting experience underpinned by intuitive hospitality and a carefully curated wine programme designed to complement the evolving seasonal menus.
The awarding of Three AA Rosettes for 2026 marks another defining chapter in LI~LY’s ambition to deliver world-class dining in the heart of Cheshire.
