WORK has started on plans to give a Durham landmark a new role in the city's night-time economy.

The nineteenth Century Brown's Boathouse, on the banks of the River Wear next to Elvet Bridge, is to be transformed into a cafe bar.

Ultimate Leisure is spending more than £3m on the project and hopes to have the 600-capacity nightspot ready by Christmas.

The building, a distinctive feature of the city that has long links with its rowing tradition, looked to be doomed a few years ago.

The company planned to demolish it completely and replace it with a large glass-fronted pub, a plan that attracted significant opposition from residents and the City of Durham Trust.

Despite a 4,000-name petition against the plan, the firm won its appeal against the refusal of planning permission.

But it had to re-think its plans when it was discovered that the city's main water mains runs between the boathouse and the Prince Bishops shopping centre.

Demolition could have caused mains failure and avoiding this would have been too costly.

Ultimate Leisure came up with proposals that will retain the building and create a smaller cafe bar than originally planned.

Managing director Bob Senior said the development would be sympathetic and in keeping with the historic area.

He said: "The overall appearance of the building will remain much the same, albeit the building needs significant work because it has fallen into disrepair.

"The boat hire business on the ground floor will remain and we will be carrying out some general landscaping to the surrounding area.

"Our bar and restaurant will have an entrance on the ground floor and occupy some of that floor and the first floor.

"Durham is a fabulous city and we are delighted to be opening there.

"It is always difficult to predict the timescale of such a project but we hope to welcome our first customers before Christmas."