THE shortlist for Yorkshire’s top tourism awards has been announced – and a host of attractions and venues from York and North and East Yorkshire are in the running.

The White Rose Awards 2014 features16 categories, including best attractions, hotels, B&Bs, caravan parks and restaurants.

The independent judging panel, chaired by Colin Mellors, pro-vice chancellor at the University of York, said entries this year were of a ‘really high quality’, adding: “We had to take some incredibly difficult decisions when it came to shortlisting, and that is testament to the standard of these Yorkshire businesses.”

Among the list of finalists for Small Visitor Attraction are Burnby Hall Gardens & Museum at Pocklington, York Prison and Police Museum at Ripon, The World of James Herriot at Thirsk and Go Ape at Dalby, near Pickering, while Large Visitor Attraction contenders include Lightwater Valley Theme Park near Ripon.

Puckett’s Pickles of York is in the running for a Taste of Yorkshire award, while The Old Brewery, York, The Dovecote Barns, York, Tockwith Lodge Barn, York, Broadgate Farm Cottages, Beverley, The Sands 5*Sea Front Apartments, Scarborough and Scalby Lodge, Scarborough are all contenders for the self catering award.

Contenders for best pub include the House of the Trembling Madness in York and The Chequers Inn, Ledsham. South Milford.

The best restaurant shortlist includes The Hare Restaurant, Scawton, near Helmsley and The Whippet Inn Steak and Ale House in York.

Best Tourism Event contenders include The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park, Wetherby, Mallard 75 at the National Railway Museum, York.

30th JORVIK Viking Festival in York, York Maze and All About the Horse at York Racecourse.

Best Caravan Holiday Park and Holiday Village contenders include Lebberston Touring Park, Scarborough, Primrose Valley Holiday Park, Filey and Cawood Holiday Park, Selby.

On the shortlist for best bed and breakfast are No 54, Helmsley, while the Large Hotel shortlist includes The Black Swan Hotel at Helmsley, Cedar Court Grand Hotel and Spa in York and York Marriott Hotel and the Small Hotel shortlist includes The Talbot Hotel in Malton and the Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa at Helmsley.

The Business Tourism shortlist includes York Conferences Limited and York Marriott Hotel while the one for Restaurant with Rooms includesThe Carpenters Arms at Thirsk.

The Visitor Information shortlist includes York Visitor Information Centre and The Moors National Park Centre at Danby while, Outstanding Customer Service included the Best Western Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge, the Holiday Inn, York, and The York Maze Team.

* Tickets will go on sale soon for the awards ceremony, with a location and date set to be announced in the near future.