ONE of Huddersfield’s longest established restaurants has closed.

Staff at Sole Mio, Imperial Arcade, found themselves shut out and served with a notice from bailiffs on May 8.

The Surrey-based bailiffs, J Dawkins, declined to give reasons for the closure.

But a legal notice in the window said the property had been taken over under terms and conditions of the restaurant’s lease.

It read: “Under the terms and conditions of your lease we as authorised agents acting on behalf of the landlord have this day re-entered the premises and the lease is hereby determined.

“Any attempt by you or your agent to enter the demised premises will result in criminal/civil proceedings being taken against you.”

The move is a legal step that usually happens where a tenant has failed to comply with the conditions or covenants in a lease, such as payment of the rent or maintenance of the premises.

It is not clear in this case what condition or conditions have been broken.

The Neapolitan-style pizzeria was established in 1975 by Nino Granata and Mario Bortoletto who had opened top Italian restaurant Quo Vadis in Huddersfield in 1972.

It was run by Stephanie and Derek Atkinson, ex-owners of Poppa Piccolino, Holmfirth, between 2000 and 2005 before it was taken over by Ihsan Murad.

The Examiner contacted Mr Murad. He declined to comment.