Brett Woodward retains a significant shareholding and will now concentrate on larger functions and designs for outside events which is an expanding part of the business.

His long-standing friend Nigel Denham, of Denham Wines, is supporting the original Berties management team of Mike Swallow and Rebecca Shaw in running the banqueting operation.

The two have 40 years service between them at Berties and will now take on the complete running of it.

Mr Woodward and Mr Denham have previously worked together on joint projects supplying food and wine and Mr Denham was seeking buildings to add to his property portfolio.

Berties first opened as an eaterie in August 1977. It was the first restaurant of its type in the north of England, and served 64 people on its first night.

Very quickly it went from strength to strength welcoming over 350 people on weekend nights.

Following this came Berties Outside Catering in 1978 and several others soon followed.

The banqueting rooms at Berties opened in 1988 when it held the NSPCC Ladies Ball.

Since then the building has, with the help of Andy Thornton's at Elland, been developed into three major banqueting rooms.

The Crystal Ballroom, for up to 250 guests, and the Rennie Mackintosh Room and Berties at Number One Brook Street Room, for up to 100 guests, each cater for seminars and conferences, corporate events, parties and charity balls.