A LANDMARK York building that has been “put back at the heart of the community” won the title of Retail, Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year.

Principal York, until recently the Royal York Hotel, has been the subject of a multimillion-pound makeover.

Its general manager, Richard Mansell, said: “I think York fell out of love with the Royal York, and to put something like that back on the map and to put that back at the heart of the community - it’s been an amazing year to do that.”

He added: “We have 200 ladies and gentlemen in that building. People come back to us because of our people, it’s as simple as that.”

In an awards category which took in a remarkably wide range of businesses, the judges said Principal York gained their vote because of the way refurbishment has transformed and reinvigorated it, and because of the wider impact this is having on the wider York economy and community.

They said Hunters of Helmsley was a highly successful and distinctive business, with a quite outstanding range of products and an appeal which goes well beyond its home area.

The judges said Cedarbarn near Pickering was a very successful farm shop and cafe with a difference, as its buildings were set within a large field which contains - among other things - a recently opened miniature railway, which takes visitors to other attractions on the site.