Village inn wins national prize

The Star Inn has a string of awards for its food

A 14th Century North Yorkshire inn has been named Pub of the Year.

The Star Inn, at Harome, near Helmsley, has clinched the coveted title in the influential Good Pub Guide 2004.

Owned by chef Andrew Pern, 34, and his wife Jacqui, 33, the pub already has a string of awards and is one of only three in Britain with a Michelin Star for its food.

Mr Pern said: "We tend to win a lot for the food so we're thrilled to now win something for the pub side of things."

Cheap beer

He added: "When we bought the place eight years ago it was empty and very run down.

"We've re-thatched it and built it up so it's now a real part of the community again."

News of the award came as the Good Pub Guide also revealed that Yorkshire is the fourth cheapest area in the country for beer - on average £1.92 a pint.

The average price of bitter across Britain is now £2.07 a pint - up from £1.99 last year.