DAVID Hattersley, 40-year-old managing director of de Bretton, is not a man to mince his words.

When City of York Council rejected his bid to turn the Bonding Warehouse into York's first five-star hotel, he made his feelings plain.

"They have taken the loot and legged it, " he said. "My scheme came with 75 full time jobs for this city. The council's scheme comes with one. And that's an occasional window cleaner" That is Mr Hattersley - funny, but also fearless and feisty, driven by passion for his de Bretton hospitality group, passion about quality and passion about York.

Passion is one reason why he has been nominated for Business Personality Of The Year His infectious enthusiasm has powered the incredible success of de Bretton. It has been a year of amazing achievement. He's - . bought York's 700-year-old Lendal Tower and begun converting it into the city's premier place to stay . propelled Marmadukes Hotel, York, from nothing to a four-star AA rating with Rosette and a place in the White Rose Awards final . created the acclaimed Harvilles Restaurant with Oyster & Champagne Cellar Bar . launched Monty's Grill, Yorkshire's first restaurant dedicated to rare breeds meat . inaugurated a charities fund with a commitment to raise £50,000 for the Calendar Girls and . garnered tourist leaders' support for an ambitious bid to turn the wrecked Bonding Warehouse into a five-star hotel.

His investment in the city has topped £20 million. And with a couple of deals bubbling under, by the end of the summer that figure will have increased substantially.

Christopher Watkins is manager of the 19-room Marmadukes Hotel, in St Peter's Road, York, which is separately entering The Press Business Awards 2007 in the Tourism and Hospitality category.

He says: "David Hattersley is the driving force behind all de Bretton ventures - not just directing staff, he's also a teacher passing down his entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge to everyone he works with, at whatever level and guiding them towards the best result."

Only last year, Marmaduke's was a backpacker's hostel. Now, after £5 million of investment, it aspires to be York's finest small hotel, with relaxation suite including sauna and hot tub and scented Roman garden. In May, it was awarded four stars and a rosette by the AA for Monty's Grill, its restaurant.