Rumours of closure, which circulated late last November, were rubbished by the previous owners.

But just days later the business was put up for sale and the restaurant – famous for its Ostrich burgers and steaks – closed on January 4.

Now the Normanton-based St Andrew’s Pub Co has invested around £425,000 to buy the business on George Street, Wakefield, and plans are to restore the eatery to its former glory. A spokesman for the company said: “The plan is to enhance the menus, offer businesses the ability to use the function room upstairs and also bring back weddings. We’ve got some big plans and the aim further down the road is to get Miche-lin star status.

“What spurred us into buying this place is its reputation, the client base and its location. We wanted to see a restaurant remain there and not have this wonderful building turned into flats, which would have been a crying shame.”

It is the company’s first restaurant acquisition and much of the existing decor will be unchanged.