RYEDALE tourism businesses scored several successes in the new Yorkshire Coast and Moors Awards held at Scarborough’s Spa.

They were among 200 which received a total of 4,000 nominations from tourists and residents in the Ryedale, Scarborough and Hambleton districts and the North York Moors National Park – the area covered by the Coast and Moors Tourism Partnership, which organised the event.

The chairman, Clive Rowe-Evans, forecast that in spite of the bleak economic outlook, the area’s tourist industry would be buoyant next year.

The increasing cost of holidays abroad due to the strength of the euro, oil prices and uncertainty in the British economy would, he believed, encourage more people to holiday at home.

“We offer quality accommodation and attractions, excellent restaurants and facilities and I’m sure that the quality of the product we have on offer in general is going to make people think twice about going abroad and instead holiday in North Yorkshire,” he said.

Top award of the night for the outstanding contribution to tourism went to the Wight Family of Thirsk and The World of James Herriot – the visitor attraction in the market town based on the life and work of Herriot, famed for his many books on which the iAll Creatures Great and Small TVseries was based.

Ryedale enterprises which achieved honours included Lastingham Grange, which won the class for hotel of the year with up to 50 bedrooms; Castle Howard, large visitor attraction; 17 Burgate, Pickering, winner of the outstanding customer service award and a highly commended award in the guests accommodation of the year class, along with Apricot Lodge, Pickering.

The Pub of the Year award went to The Black Swan at Oldstead, with the Middleton Arms, Pickering, being highly commended.

Also highly commended were Beech Farm Cottages and Keld Head Farm Cottages, both in Pickering, in the self-catering accommodation section, which was won by Adventure Cottage, Whitby.

Moorlands Country House, Levisham, won the guest accommodation of the year award.

Other awards were as follows: Restaurant (special occasion class): winner Green’s Restaurant, Whitby; highly commended, Estbec House, Sandsend; Restaurant (high volume): winner Copper Horse, highly commended, Tricolos; Small hotels – winner Lastingham Grange, highly commended, Saxonville, Whitby. Large hotels: winner Crown Spa, Scarborough, highly commended, Raven Hall, Ravenscar. Sustainable Tourism Award: Marine View Guest House, Scarborough. Visitor attraction (small): winner Filey Museum; highly commended, World of James Herriot. Tourism retailer: Doodlepots, Whitby. Café bar/tea room: TeeHee, Easingwold; highly commended, Solid Rock Café, Scarborough. Continental bar: The Glass House, North Bay, Scarborough. Self- catering accommodation: winner Adventure Cottage, Whitby; highly commended Beech Farm Cottages and Keld Head Farm Cottages, both Pickering. Caravan park: Jasmine Park, Snainton; highly commended Ladycross Plantation, Egton and Lebberston Touring Park.