A York guest house has been named the best in the country in a prestigious awards ceremony.
MonkBridge House won the gold award for B&B and Guest House of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
The Huntington Road venue is an independent family-run guest house overlooking the River Foss.
It is run by Paul and Fiona Hemsley, who posted on their socials: “We are delighted”.
Paul said: “We gave up corporate life in London six years ago to take over our business in York, and it’s the best move we could have made.
“York is one of the finest, most welcoming and historic cities in the UK and close to both the Dales, Moors national parks and the coast.
“We are blessed with fantastic local produce to make breakfast and it is a delight to welcome new and returning guests from around the world.
“When refurbishing the property, we have embraced a green approach but in everything we do, our focus is on giving our guests the best possible experience.”
MonkBridge House was one of three winners at this year’s Visit York Tourism Awards to go on and achieve national recognition at the prestigious VisitEngland Awards.
Castle Howard won the Silver Award for International Tourism.
Castle Howard’s visitor attraction director Abbi Ollive said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised at the VisitEngland Awards and to be named alongside some of the UK’s leading visitor attractions.
“A genuine Yorkshire welcome is central to the Castle Howard experience, and we place great importance on ensuring our international visitors feel valued from the moment they arrive.
“Through initiatives ranging from cultural awareness training and bespoke guided tours to travel-inclusive ticket packages and tailored visitor services, our team is committed to delivering an outstanding and memorable experience for guests from across the globe.”
And the Wizard Walk of York won the Silver Award for Experience of the Year.
It’s now achieved success at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence for three consecutive years.
Owner Daniel Wood, aka Phoenix the Red, said: “We are simply spellbound to be VisitEngland finalists once again. We’re a small family business with big ideas, and love bringing magic, wonder and laughter to the streets of our enchanting city.
“The Wizard Walk welcomes wand-erers from all over the world, and we specialise in creating unforgettable family memories on a unique walking tour like no other. The world needs more magic, and that’s exactly what we offer and deliver!”
