TWO Helmsley businesses are celebrating success at an awards ceremony.

The Black Swan Hotel was named as hotel of the year, while Hunters of Helmsley was awarded Independent Retailer of the Year award at Yorkshire Life’s Food & Drink Awards 2015.

Hunters, which has been based inMarket Place for 25 years, was commended for its wide and varied range of products, innovate approach to partnerships, customer service and helpful staff who are “never phased”.

The win comes on the back of Hunters being awarded the title of Britain’s Best Small Shop at the House of Commons in the Spring.

Chris Garnett, who owns the deli with his wife Christine, said: “It’s always so amazing to win any award, but particularly one which has been nominated and voted for by members of the public.

"We’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you and our team who work very hard to try and create a fantastic shopping experience for our customers.

"It’s an honour to work with so many fantastic local suppliers and producers and we’re very passionate about keeping trade local where we can. It was also fantastic to see our neighbours in Helmsley, the Black Swan, win Hotel of the Year, which is very well deserved.”

Judges praised the Black Swan Hotel for its “warm welcome, outstanding location and consistently high levels of service”.

Paul O’ Hanlon, general manager of The Black Swan Hotel, said: "Now that The Black Swan has been recognised as Hotel of the Year Award for the second time this year, of course, I am immensely proud.

"Without such a strong and committed team and community spirit behind us, there is no way we could continue to maintain our position at the top of our game."

As a result of winning the Visit York Tourism Awards Hotel of the Year during the summer of this year, the hotel has been shortlisted for the Large Hotel of the Year at the White Rose Awards, which will be announced in Leeds on Monday, November 9.