IN INLAND York you have to dig really deep for oysters.

That wondrous little-known fact was discovered by local developer David Hattersley in his £3 million attempt to transform what was Tricksters, in Fossgate, into Harvilles Restaurant.

The name change was more than skin deep. Mr Hattersley authorised the removal of more than 300 tonnes of earth to create Harvilles stunning basement Oyster and Champagne Cellar Bar.

It was part of an amazing revamp which saw the first floor transformed into a light, stylish Art Deco dining area with views to the spotless modern kitchens preparing the simply cooked steaks and fish for which Harvilles quickly became well known.

Now the restaurant and its 22 employees are pitching for the New Business Of The Year and the Tourism And Hospitality Business Of The Year in The Press Business Of The Year Awards 2007.

Mr Hattersley represents the de Bretton Private Collection, a York-based hospitality group, whose director of hospitality is Shane Winship, the man who turned the Alice Hawthorn in Nun Monkton into an acclaimed destination pub.

The group chef is the award-winning John Griffiths, who was pivotal to the meteoric rise of the Blue Bicycle Restaurant in York and Steve Chandler is head chef at Harvilles.

Having run several Yorkshire kitchens and his own restaurant in Goa, he led the team from the February launch day on.

David, Shane, John and Steve created the menu around a core philosophy. Shane said: "It's all about local produce simply prepared and cooked.

"The wonderfully succulent steaks may be from Aberdeen Angus cattle, but they are reared just up the road on a farm in Boroughbridge. Fresh fish comes from Whitby."

The extensive wine list includes 30 different Champagnes.

The culinary culture is framed by artistic culture. A Roaring Twenties mural by Phil Game decorates the Cellar Bar while upstairs Terrey Logan, the photographer of the famous Calendar Girls, has recreated one of those famous images in oils.