A GOLF and hotel complex in North Yorkshire has a new owner, after being sold for £8m.

The 62-bedroom Aldwark Manor Golf and Country Club, in the Ure Valley, 12 miles north of York, has been bought by Marston Hotels. For the past three years it was owned by software entrepreneur Brad Holbrook, who carried out a long programme of restoration and improvements. It includes a health spa, conference facilities and a range of public areas as well as an 18-hole golf course.

PROFITS FALL: Harvey Nichols has reported a 20 per cent dip in profits after being hit by the post-September 11 drop in tourism, but said trading was improving. The group, which has its flagship store in London's Knightsbridge as well as a store in Leeds, said pre-tax profits for the year to March 30 slid to £12.5m although sales were up 2.5 per cent at £140.4m.

MORE PASSENGERS: Airports operator BAA has seen an increase in passenger traffic as the tourist sector continued its tentative recovery. BAA, which operates seven UK airports including Gatwick and Heathrow, has been rocked by the foot-and-mouth crisis and September 11. It said 10.7 million people passed through its airports in May, an 0.8 per cent improvement on the same month last year.

CHEESE INVESTMENT: Dairy foods group Dairy Crest is to plough £41m into expanding and upgrading its cheddar-making plant in Cornwall, to increase sales of its Cathedral City brand. Dairy Crest said it was making the investment following "continued strong growth" in consumer demand for its Cathedral City and Davidstow brands.

NEW FACE: Catherine Zeta Jones is to become the new face of mobile phone company T-Mobile International. The Welsh film star replaces actress Jamie Lee Curtis