Ten North Yorkshire guest houses have made it into a prestigious guide to Britain's best B&Bs.

The Good Bed and Breakfast Guide, published today by consumer watchdogs Which? recommends 1,100 B&Bs, including seven in the York area, two in Whitby and one new entry on the Yorkshire Lancashire boundary, which has made it into the guide's top 20.

Getting its first mention in the guide was Burton Villa, a Victorian house opposite Clarence Gardens on York's Haxby Road.

It was commended for its high standard of cleanliness and its tasteful furnishings with 'burnt-orange duvets and dainty wallpapers'.

Manageress Chris Gibson, who has run Burton Villa for the last six years on behalf of owners Mike and Ren Buss, said: "It's brilliant news - getting into the guide is a real feather in your cap.

"We had a lady from the guide come around unannounced a while a go and she said we had been nominated by some of our customers.

"She had a cup of tea with us and a look around and we tried to make her feel at home as we do with all our visitors.

"People do tend to come back to us year after year and we often get new visitors through word-of- mouth recommendations.

"But it's certainly not all down to me - I get lots of help from Mike and Ren and the staff are all lovely to work with."

Also making its debut is Holgate Bridge Hotel, at 106 Holgate Road, which highlighted its "pretty bedrooms" decorated with co-ordinated floral fabrics and its good selection of wines.

Rosie Blanksby and Bill Pitts, who have taken charge of Holmwood House, a few doors away from the Holgate Bridge at 114 Holgate Road, have been praised for "enthusiastically taking to the job of maintaining and improving on the high standards established by their predecessors".

Three other York B&Bs also won a place in the guide, Abbeyfields in Bootham Terrace won approval for its situation on the riverbank and its attic bedrooms, and the Dairy Guesthouse in Scarcroft Road, for its vegetarian catering and its original Victorian features, including stained-glass windows and fireplaces.

Curzon Lodge and Stable Cottages in Tadcaster Road is described as "beautifully restored" 17th Century house and coach-house, which was once occupied by the Terry family.

Elaine Hemingway who runs Hall Farm B & B at High Stittenham, near Sheriff Hutton, is praised for her hospitality. The guide describes her as a "warm and friendly host" who offers tea and home-baked cakes to arriving guests at what is a working sheep and cattle farm.

The Grove Hotel in Bagdale, Whitby, has found its way in the guide. It says the "imposing red-brick hotel" has "tastefully furnished bedrooms" and a pine staircase which dates back to Victorian times. Grantley House in Hudson Street, Whitby, is a new entry in the guide.

In the top 20 B & Bs in the country is Sandy Laithe, at Tosside, on the North Yorkshire/Lancashire border.

The guide says standards at B&Bs are improving, with more establishments offering good value, comfort and a pleasurable stay.

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