A THIRD attempt is being made to turn a pub and restaurant complex into a commercial success.

In little more than two years since the opening of Cathedrals, following a £3.5m development of Durham's disused Victorian-built police office, two ventures have failed.

The complex, off Court Lane, includes a coffee shop, bar, restaurant and function room.

Financial problems beset both previous attempts to operate successfully but the lease was this week taken on by County Durham businessman Stan Roberts.

He plans to drop the Cathedrals title and operate all four sections under separate names.

Staff have been re-interviewed and Mr Roberts plans to operate with a workforce of about 60.

He is investing £300,000 to upgrade the restaurant and bar, as well as improve the car park paving.

Within 24-hours of taking on the lease on Monday afternoon, Mr Roberts re-opened the coffee shop, Caf Venice.

The first-floor restaurant should re-open by the end of next week, under the Italian Connection name.

Work on the ground floor may take a month to complete before re-emerging as the student-orientated Passenger bar, in time for the university term, while the second floor function suite will remain in use as The Loft.

Although his original business was developing automatic welding systems for the oil and gas industry, Mr Roberts has run Woodham Golf and Country Club, near Newton Aycliffe, for 20 years and is behind the Bud Bigallow theme restaurant, which opened alongside the Travelodge in Gilesgate, Durham, last December.

Despite its previous failings, Mr Roberts believes he can revive the fortunes of the former Cathedrals complex.

He said: "We were approached by the owners of the building to keep it as a going concern and we've quickly put together the investment programme to create the right look.

"They did a fantastic job when the building was renovated, but some of the previous ideas have not quite worked in the setting and we feel, with our business background, it can be turned around."

Mr Roberts will honour existing wedding party bookings in the function room.