YORK proved it was a top tourist city after picking up an array of awards at the Yorkshire Tourist Board's White Rose Awards For Tourism.

The Evening Press-sponsored York Festival of Food & Drink was named the Tourism Event Of The Year and the National Centre For Early Music won the Unusual Conference Venue Of The Year section.

Melanie Paris, marketing manager of the National Centre for Early Music, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to receive this prestigious award. The staff have worked hard at the centre to establish our conference business over the last few years."

Abbeygate House, Baille Hill House and Bishopgate Pavilion, all in York, were finalists in the Self-Catering Holiday Of The Year section of the competition.

The Jorvik Viking Centre, the National Railway Museum, York, and Flamingo Land theme park, near Pickering, were finalists in the Visitor Attraction Of The Year section.

The Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council were finalists in the Tourism Website Of The Year section.

York Marriot Hotel was a finalist in the Conference Venue Of The Year section and The National Railway Museum was also a finalist in the Unusual Conference Venue Of The Year along with the Bar Convent Trust, York.

The awards were handed out at a gala dinner at the Royal Armouries in Leeds by television presenters Harry Gration and Christa Ackroyd.

Hazlewood Castle, near Tadcaster, was awarded the Hotel Of The Year with under 60 bedrooms section and was also a finalist in the Conference Venue Of The Year section.

Rudding Park Hotel, near Harrogate, was named hotel of the year with more than 50 bedrooms and Rudding Park was a finalist in the Caravan Holiday Park Of the Year.

The Tourist Information Centre Of The Year award went to Pickering. Beech Farm Cottages, at Pickering, won Self-Catering Holiday Of The Year and The Moorland Country House, in Pickering, won Guest Accommodation of the Year.

Outstanding Customer Service Award was given to Andrew Foster, of Foster and Hawkes, at Helmsley.

Jasmine Park, in Scarborough, was voted Caravan Holiday Of The Year.

Updated: 11:21 Thursday, October 03, 2002