NORTH Craven couple Margaret and Tony King are celebrating 10 years in business in Settle in October.

The pair, who used to live in Skipton, sold up and moved 16 miles up the A65 to the Oast Guest House in Settle a decade ago, and they have never looked back.

The Oast represents their first foray into the world of owning and running their own business, and they are planning celebrations with long standing guests and friends during October, including open house buffet and drinks, to toast their success at the Oast.

One of the highlights of their 10 years has been getting to know the people who come back year after year, said Margaret, and one of these is Michelle Buckley, of Bromley, Kent, who stayed at the Oast on the Kings fourth night of taking over, and has been coming to the Oast for 12 years.

Michelle celebrated her 40th birthday at the Oast this year, and has been there for most of her birthdays since her 30th in 1988.

The couple now count many regular customers as friends, and they are preparing to welcome some of them back for special celebratory weekends in October.

The couple, who are members of Settle Chamber of Trade, have three sons - Shaun, who lives in Australia, Neil, who lives in Skipton, and Robbie, who is based in Wales - and Tony is a postman in Settle.

Margaret organises charity stalls for the Chamber of Trade for various events throughout the year, and she is also on the committee of the Settle Area Community Council.

She is also on the committee of the Settle Carlisle Business Liaison Group, which counts among its successes the introduction of the Dales Railcard.

They are marking their 10th anniversary at the Oast with two for the price of one vouchers for guests at local attractions, including the falconry centre, Embsay Steam Railway and the Royal Armouries, or, if guests do not want to take advantage of the offers, they will receive a complimentary bottle of wine.

"The highlight of this year came in August when an HMTV crew based in York and actor Frazer Hines stayed a couple of nights while filming for Yorkshire TV on walks in the area. This was when we had all the downpours so there were plenty of dripping wet clothes to dry!" said Margaret.

She added: "We still thoroughly enjoy doing the work, welcoming the different types of people from different parts of the world."

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