The Mansion has stood deserted throughout the five years since former tenants, the Gilpin family, gave up their lease.

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In 2005, Leeds City Council agreed to plough £1.9m, including more than £400,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, into restoring the building.
But the intervening years saw the project stall, with an unsuccessful search for lease bidders held in 2006.

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The process restarted in 2007, and a winning bid was lodged by Leeds company Dine, which holds catering contracts for famous venues such as Leeds Town Hall and Harewood House.

Dine will now run Mansion services such as wedding receptions and its traditional-style cafe.

A flurry of couples have already rushed to book the house for their wedding do, despite the 12-week refurbishment programme being in its very early stages.

The Mansion was bought by the City of Leeds in 1871. Former landlord Craven Gilpin, who ran the place from 1896 until he died in 1951, was a pioneer of outside catering trade in Leeds.

Mr Gilpin's reputation was so high, King George V asked to meet him after a royal banquet at Leeds Town Hall.