The Michelin Keys have been created to recognise outstanding hotels around the UK which is the "culmination of countless hours of evaluation" from inspectors. A hotel can be awarded One, Two or Three Keys, which is the equivalent of Michelin stars for a restaurant. Discussing the Keys, the Michelin Guide explained: "These are places that significantly add to your experience as a traveller, each vetted by our hotel experts and judged excellent in five categories: architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.
" The full list of the UK winners of Michelin Keys for 2024 can be found on . The two New Forest hotels recognised in the awards scheme were: Lime Wood Hotel is said to have a "casual, almost effortless luxury" alongside "a layer of crisp, contemporary interior design". The profile adds: "There’s a very fine yet totally unpretentious restaurant, with a resolutely fresh-and-local menu by chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder, and a spa that’s just luxe enough.
"Lime Wood’s price point means it’s not exactly a budget offering, which makes the lack of pomp and circumstance even a bit more daring — a less confident hotel would be tempted to cram in as much gilt as possible, so as to really earn every last pound. Lime Wood gets the balance just right — which is something worth paying for." Alongside that, the .