A THEATRE has suffered another setback with the departure of its catering manager, less than a month after the re-launch of its failing restaurant.

The restaurant, at Durham's Gala Theatre, was re-opened as The Studio last month after closing for refurbishment.

It had originally opened later than planned in January last year, under the name The Dining Room, but its menu failed to attract customers.

At the re-launch, timed to coincide with the opening of the play Brief Encounter, a theatre spokesman predicted that the new-look restaurant, serving bistro-style meals, would be more popular.

Now, after three months in the job, catering manager Peter Bradley has left.

The spokesman said his departure was amicable.

"As is normal with any job, he took it on for a three-month probationary period," he said.

"After the three months, he decided that it wasn't the right role for him."

The spokesman said that following Mr Bradley's departure, the restaurant had ceased to open for pre-theatre meals, and was concentrating on private functions.

"Over the coming months, the restaurant will still be used but more in the private function area, which is going phenomenally well for us, considering that we have only just started with it," he said.

"After that, a reassessment will be done by theatre management to see if it's a viable proposition to keep it going along corporate lines or bring in a table-for-two restaurant again."