STAFF at a York city centre hotel have given youngsters a master class in hospitality.

On a visit to the restaurant at the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, pupils from Yearsley Grove Primary School learned skills – including the art of silver service.

For the past five years, the school has held its leavers’ party at the award-winning venue, and it has become customary for the Year 6s to be “looked after” during the course of the evening by pupils from the year below.

To help the younger children in their duties, the hotel spends an afternoon teaching them how to serve food and drinks and clear tables. They are also given advice on what to wear and how to address their guests.

Monkbar Hotel director June Nelsey said: “This is one of our favourite events of the year and it’s always a very special occasion for not only the Year 6 leavers, but for the Year 5 “staff” too.

“Hopefully some will consider a career in hospitality when they are old enough.”