ONE year ago it was a hostel for backpackers.

But today Marmadukes Hotel, in St Peters Grove, York, was given a four-star rating from the AA - catapulting it into the A-list of hospitality.

The rating puts Marmadukes on a par with the city's Royal York Hotel and Aldwark Manor.

And it's not the only hotel to hit the four-star mark in the new ratings announced today - Hazlewood Castle, between York and Leeds, has also done it.

Marmadukes owner David Hattersley, who spent £5 million transforming the budget hostel into a boutique hotel, said he was delighted with his new star status.

He said: "I am immensely proud of my management team, who took a neglected dump and transformed it into probably the finest small hotel in Yorkshire."

Marmadukes boasts antique furniture and also offers a relaxation suite and Roman garden.

The AA experts spent 36 hours inspecting every corner of the hotel before awarding it a four-star ranking.

They also paid a visit to the restaurant - presenting the team with an AA Rosette for excellence. David said: "As Rosettes are only awarded to restaurants that serve great food made from fresh ingredients, our chefs are very pleased."

The hotel is run by Chris and Emma Watkins and is part of David's de Bretton Private Collection, which also includes the 700-year-old Lendal Tower complex and Harvilles Restaurant, both in York.

Earlier this year, City of York Council rejected his bid to turn the disused Bonding Warehouse into the city's first five-star hotel.

Meanwhile, Mark Booth, from Hazlewood Castle, said: "This is fantastic news for Hazlewood and everyone who works here. We've been operating with a four-star approach to everything we do for a long time now, so it's a significant achievement to receive the recognition formally from the AA."


How to become a four star hotel

The leap up from three- star to four requires a higher standard of excellence, comfort and quality, and spacious rooms with large outdoor public areas.

There should be function rooms equipped for full in-house entertainment, 24-hour food service and specially trained staff who anticipate the needs of guests.

The AA defines four-star as: "Attentive staff provide a very good level of service. At least half of the rooms will have an en suite bath and a shower. At least one restaurant offering a good range of hot and cold skilfully prepared food."