A housekeeper who has worked at a Buckinghamshire hotel for nearly 30 years said it was ‘surreal’ to be named best in the UK at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Nicola Burton, 47, began working at Hartwell House Hotel and Spa as a chambermaid when she was just 19-years-old. 28 years later, she is head housekeeper at the luxury Aylesbury estate and, according to the AA’s awarding body – often dubbed the Oscars of the UK hospitality industry – she now holds the reigning title as best housekeeper in the UK.

The AA Hospitality Awards, hosted by the inspecting body AA at Grosvenor House in London on Monday, September 25, recognised the very best businesses and individuals across the UK hospitality sector, including the ‘Hotel of the Year’, ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Housekeeper of the Year’.

The glitzy ceremony, at which Nicola was awarded the latter accolade earlier this week, was a “surreal experience”, the 47-year-old said, but “a very nice feeling”, especially because of the light she hopes it will shine on others in the housekeeping industry, whose hard work she believes often goes unappreciated. 

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“It was a lovely, fantastic evening but it was all a bit of a blur. I still feel a bit shocked because I’ve only been the head housekeeper for a year and a half, and it does take a whole team to keep up the hotel’s standards and keep it looking as good as it does.

“Part of me feels that others on my team should be acknowledged for their hard work too, but I also think it’s nice to have recognition of my housekeeping role. I hope other people who are also in the profession see that and take it to mean that we are appreciated in the industry.”

Described by the head of sales at Hartwell House, Adam Treloar, as an “amazing” housekeeper of whom everyone at the hotel was “really proud”, Nicola went straight back to work after the awards ceremony – a return that felt like something of a comedown from a decidedly “surreal” night but also came with the knowledge that her contributions were being appreciated on a national and eminent scale.

“I started here when I was just a teenager, and I was only originally planning to stay for three months. I have been here a long time now and some days are easier than others, but it’s very nice to have the recognition. It’s a nice shock that still hasn’t quite sunk in yet!”