A NORTH Yorkshire country inns group is adding a new brand to its portfolio with a £10,000 investment at its Helperby site.

Provenance Inns Group, which employs 270 people across six pubs and one hotel, with be launching its new brand the Yorkshire Steakhouse & Grill next month at its site in Helperby, The Oak Tree Inn.

As part of the launch the company is investing £10,000 in a two-tonne, 400 degree wood burning oven for the restaurant.

Michael Ibbotson, director of Provenance Inns & Hotels, said: "The introduction of our new brand, the Yorkshire Steakhouse, in addition to our country inns and boutique hotel will provide us with three very distinct areas for future growth.

"By creating three distinct brands it will enable us to market our businesses separately and more effectively while ensuring our quality, service levels and food and beverage components are finely tuned in accordance with each market."

Prior to the Yorkshire Steakhouse & Grill launch, the Provenance Group's last venture saw it branch into the hotel market for the first time when it opened the West Park hotel in Harrogate in August last year.

The Group's portfolio also includes The Black Bull Inn in Moulton, The Carpenters Arms in Felixkirk, The Punch Bowl Inn in Marton-cum-Grafton, The Crown and Cushion in Welburn and The Durham Ox in Crayke.