BUSINESSES and attractions across North Yorkshire - including a pub, a walled garden, a restaurant and an abbey - are celebrating success in the UK’s biggest celebration of tourism.

More than 1,000 people attended Welcome to Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards ceremony last night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

Businesses went head to head in 17 different categories and there were notable successes for several in the York area and North Yorkshire.

The Bay Tree at Stillington, near York, won the title Yorkshire Pub of the Year while The Pheasant Hotel at Helmsley was named Restaurant of the Year.

Scampston Hall and Walled Garden near Malton was named best Small Attraction, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon won the Large Attraction award and the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate won the title Tourism Event of the Year.

Meanwhile, Bridlington Tourist Information Centre won best Visitor Information and Rudding Park in Harrogate won the Large Hotel award.

Highly Commended businesses included Miller’s Fish and Chips of York in the Taste of Yorkshire category, Lendal Tower, York, in the self-catering award, Vale of Pickering Caravan Park in the Caravan and Holiday Park section and the National Railway Museum, in York, in the Business Tourism category.

Professor Colin Mellors, chairman of the independent panel of judges, said the awards were a fitting opportunity to celebrate some of Yorkshire’s finest businesses.

“Given the tough competition, this year’s winners deserve our warmest congratulations,” he said.

“The region’s visitor economy goes from strength to strength and our tourism businesses provide sector-leading levels of service and hospitality.”

Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said the awards were a great opportunity to celebrate the businesses who worked so hard to make the county a world-class visitor destination.

“Without the amazing efforts of these businesses, Yorkshire wouldn’t be the success it is,” he said. “It really is a group effort that goes in to making the county a destination that people want to visit again and again.”