TASTY pub grub in North Yorkshire has today got the thumbs up in a new review.

The latest edition of the Which? Pub Guide recommends 14 local taverns - the highest total for any county listed in the book.

Andrew Stephens, landlord at the Fox & Hounds, Sinnington, near Pickering, whose inn is among those praised, said: "This emphasises the quality of food being produced in North Yorkshire."

"The competition in the area keeps everyone on their toes and really makes the county stand out from the crowd.

"Yorkshire is also a great place to get fresh produce," said the 54-year-old, whose pub has featured in the book several times.

The Which? guide is published today and features the top 1,000 UK food pubs.

It also picks out 150 where cuisine is top notch.

Those featured in this select group from North Yorkshire are: The Angel Inn, Hetton; Appletree, Marton; Black Bull, Moulton; Blue Lion, East Witton; Crab and Lobster, Asenby; Durham Ox, Crayke; Galphay Arms, Galphay; General Tarleton, Ferrensby; Golden Lion, Osmotherley; Sandpiper Inn, Leyburn; Sportsman's Arms, Wath-in-Nidderdale; York Arms, Ramsgill, and the Star Inn, Harome, which was recently named Pub of the Year in the Good Food Guide.

Andrew Turvil, editor of the Which? guide, said: "The very best pubs offer what is truly great about this particularly British institution: an informal, relaxed approach to hospitality, where you can eat a little or a lot or just come in for a drink."

Updated: 11:16 Thursday, October 30, 2003