MORE than 20 jobs have been saved with the takeover of a Holme Valley restaurant.

Father and son Stephen and Jonathan Tiffany, who own the Ford Inn at Holmfirth, have bought CragRats Brasserie, at Sheffield Road, near Hepworth.

The purchase of the business from administrators Ernst & Young secures 22 full and part-time jobs at the restaurant.

Seventy jobs were lost when theatre and training firm Crag-Rats went into administration in June due to financial difficulties.

Hunter Kelly and John Sumpton were appointed joint administrators of CragRats Ltd.

The sale of the brasserie follows the sale of some of the assets of the CragRats business to Surrey-based educational training company Speakeasy4schools.

Two freehold properties formerly in the CragRats empire remain for sale – the firm’s head office on Dunford Road, Holmfirth, and a former activity centre at Hazelhead.

Jonathan Tiffany said the brasserie would complement the owners’ existing business at the Ford Inn.

“The Ford is more for people calling in for bar meals while the brasserie is somewhere you book to dine.

“ We certainly won’t be competing with ourselves.

“The management and staff at the brasserie have had a tough few months and staff morale has been a little bit low.

“The acquisition provides them with certainty about the future and has given them a little more confidence.”

Mr Tiffany said the new owners planned to make some “minor improvements” to the premises and would be re-naming the brasserie at some stage.

Mr Sumpton said: “The CragRats Brasserie is a successful operation with an excellent reputation.

“The sale attracted a large number of interested parties and we would like to thank the employees and customers for their continued support during the administration.”

Sean Ludden, director of property agent Christie + Co, which advised the administrators, said: “We are delighted to have secured experienced operators Jonathan and Stephen Tiffany to acquire the Crag-Rats Brasserie, which has already established itself as a leading destination venue on the Yorkshire dining map.

“We are sure that under Jonathan and Stephen’s ownership, the business will thrive and continue to attract custom from as far away as Leeds and Manchester.”