TOP entrepreneur Jan Fletcher has bought Harrogate's Drum And Monkey restaurant.

The deal to sell the Montpelier Gardens venture was verbally finalised 11 days ago, but talks continued into last week.

So how much is the former Businesswoman of the Year and Yorkshire Woman of the Year paying to take over from William Fuller, who is now retiring after 24 years of building the seafood restaurant's international reputation?

No one is saying. Event agents Robbins Associates, of Harrogate, were asked publicly not to put a price on the 32-staff restaurant, which has a six-month bookings list.

Mr Fuller is "pleased greatly" by the fact that Jan is buying the restaurant. "She is a regular customer and already owns another famous Yorkshire fish restaurant, Bryan's in Headingly."

He said his prime concern was to look after his staff, some of whom he had employed for more than 16 years, as well as ensuring continuity of customers.

He said: "Jan is taking on our staff and will continue with the Drum ethos based on the best quality fresh fish and value for money."

Mr Fuller, who once owned and ran a London restaurant with Clement Freud, competed against just three other restaurants in Harrogate when he bought the premises in 1979. Now there are more than 80, but the Drum And Monkey maintains its lofty lobster and champagne reputation. For Jan Fletcher, hard at work planning her City One venture, a £262 million multi-use Leeds city centre development with restaurants, casino, hotel, health club and spa, this transaction is a welcome aside.

She said: "There are similarities between Bryan's and the Drum. Both buy the best quality, freshest fish; Bryan's serves lobster and champagne as well as fish and chips; both restaurants are loved by celebrities and locals and have become Yorkshire institutions."

Updated: 09:21 Tuesday, November 25, 2003