THEATRE-GOERS can now dine in style before and after performances at Durham's new Gala Theatre.

Catering facilities are up and running - two months after the curtain went up at the new arts venue, in Durham's multi-million pound Millennium City development.

Teething problems were blamed for the late opening of the plush top-floor restaurant, The Dining Room, which opened yesterday.

Offering an a la carte menu and dramatic views over the skyline of Durham and across the River Wear, it aims to cater for audience members attending shows and the public at large. It will open daily from noon until 2.30pm, and with a special pre-theatre rapid fixed-price menu, from 5pm.

But there will still be time to dine after most shows, with the restaurant serving until 11pm from Monday to Saturday.

A daily menu is also available from today in the Gala Caf and Bar.

Overseeing the catering operation are two County Durham exiles, returning to their roots.

Kate Lund, from Durham City, is the restaurant and banqueting manager. She arrives with an impressive track record in London, having worked with Sir Terence Conran during the opening of his Saville Row restaurant Sartoria, and recently in Marco Pierre White's La Parisienne Chophouse, in Knightsbridge.

Darren Foster, from Newton Aycliffe, heads an 11-strong cooking and kitchen corps at the Gala as executive head chef. During 12 years as a head chef he has worked at restaurants in a variety of settings, including several in Yorkshire.

Restaurant and caf inquiries and bookings can be made on 0191-332 4044.