A TINY restaurant in North Yorkshire is cooking up a storm having claimed one of the most coveted titles in the world - finishing ahead of such culinary legends as Raymond Blanc and Heston Blumenthal.

The Black Swan at Oldstead, between Thirsk and Helmsley on the North York Moors, has been named the world's best rated restaurant in the annual Tripadvisor Awards.

It marks the first time a UK restaurant has topped the world category since the awards began in 2012, ousting former Spanish winner Martin Berasategui who held the title for the past two years.

What is more extraordinary is The Black Swan is run by brothers Tommy and James Banks, who took over the reins from their parents when they were aged just 19 and 17.

Since then they’ve had a meteoric rise to fame, and the restaurant has won a Michelin star for the past four years.

For the family run concern it’s a huge accolade, after they took over the former village pub having lived and farmed in the area for generations.

Tommy, now 26, was the youngest British head chef ever to win a Michelin star. He had no formal training but has worked with some of the country’s top chefs.

He said: “Its a huge honour to win this award, but what makes it really special is that it’s been awarded because of feedback from our customers.”

One of its unique hallmarks is the amount of homegrown herbs and vegetables they use from their own two acre site surrounding the pub.

Signature dishes include squid dressed in horseradish juice, Texel lamb with turnip and mint and cake made from chicory root and blackcurrant.

"I see the Black Swan as a co-operative of minds. We have great people working here; some real characters with tremendous talent and it’s their coming together that creates something so special for our guests," added Tommy. "It’s not just a job for us, it’s a lifestyle.

“We’re lucky to have such a creative team. Growing and foraging so much ourselves really gives us an edge and a chance to do things differently.”

That difference paid off for the team as it’s the first time they’ve even appeared in the Tripadvisor Awards, never mind topping it.

In doing so they have pipped some of the most renowned restaurant names. Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire came second while Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, finished 12th.

Tripadvisor say the awards were determined using a special algorithm taking into account the quantity and quality of global reviews over a year.

Spokeswoman Hayley Coleman said: “What makes these awards different is they are not based on a small judging panel, but on millions of reviews.

"To win, a restaurant has to deliver both excellence and crucially consistency. Given how competitive the global restaurant industry is, it really is a fantastic achievement for the team at The Black Swan to take the title of world number one in its Travellers’ Choice awards debut.”

Travellers’ Choice Favourite Fine Dining Restaurants Worldwide:

The Black Swan at Oldstead, Oldstead, United Kingdom
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, New Milton, United Kingdom
Maison Lameloise, Chagny, France
L'Auberge de l'Ill, Illhaeusern, France
Martin Berasategui, Lasarte, Spain
Daniel, New York City, United States
La Colombe, Constantia, South Africa
David's Kitchen, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Maido, Lima, Peru
El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

Travellers’ Choice Favourite Fine Dining Restaurants Europe:

The Black Swan at Oldstead, Oldstead, United Kingdom
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, New Milton, United Kingdom
Maison Lameloise, Chagny, France
L'Auberge de l'Ill, Illhaeusern, France
Martin Berasategui, Lasarte, Spain
El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain
Restaurant Alcron, Prague, Czech Republic
The Fat Duck, Bray on Thames, United Kingdom
Ristorante Don Alfonso 1890, Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, Italy
DOC, Armamar, Portugal

Travellers’ Choice Favourite Fine Dining Restaurants UK:

The Black Swan at Oldstead, Oldstead, North Yorkshire
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, New Milton, Oxfordshire
The Fat Duck, Bray on Thames, Berkshire
Waterside Inn, Bray on Thames, Berkshire
The Three Chimneys, Colbost, Isle of Skye
L’Enclume, Cartmel, Cumbria
Adam’s, Birmingham, Midlands
Quay Fifteen, Southampton, Hampshire
The Five Fields, London
Aizle, Edinburgh