A YORKSHIRE tea room and bakery famous for its continental cakes, Yorkshire treats and seasonal bakes has won a prestigious industry award.

Bettys Craft Bakery in Harrogate has been named Craft Business of the Year at the Baking Industry Awards in London – the industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.

In an age when traditional craft baking methods have largely given way to mass production, the craft business of the year category was set up to celebrate the best of Britain’s traditional skills - places where craftsmen take centre stage, rather than production lines and machines.

Bettys Craft Bakery was recognised because of its commitment to quality and the fact that it preserves traditional baking and confectionery craft skills for future generations.

Bettys bakers, confectioners and chocolatiers, still make most of their specialities by hand – a range of breads are baked in a traditional wood fired oven, and it can take more than two hours to decorate one of Bettys Christmas Cakes.

The ceremony took place at London’s Park Lane Hilton, and Bettys was presented with the award by the comedian Hugh Dennis.

Bettys Craft Bakery general manager Caroline Grant said: “Our Craft Bakery is the only one of its kind in Britain.

“The Craft Business of the Year award is a tribute to the hard work of all the team here at Bettys Bakery.”