AN entrepreneur is to invest £1m opening an Asian-themed restaurant in one of Durham City's best-known buildings.

Entrepreneur Nigel Gadd plans to open the 3,000sq ft Zen oriental restaurant in Durham's former police station, in Court Lane.

In 2001, the Victorian building, which is near the city's law courts, was converted into Cathedrals, a restaurant, bar and the Cafe Venice coffee shop.

The initial venture collapsed - and two subsequent attempts to run the complex as a going concern failed.

The bulk of the building is being converted into apartments by Chesterford Properties, but Mr Gadd has agreed the deal to buy Caf Venice and turn it into the Thai-influenced restaurant, scheduled to open in May.

Mr Gadd said he planned to hire nine kitchen and front-of-house staff from leading hotels and restaurants in Bangkok, who will relocate to England subject to visa applications.

Interior designers Fluid Design Solutions, of Newcastle, have been appointed to give the 120-seat venue an authentic feel.

Mr Gadd, who owns The Stables bar and restaurant in Wynyard, near Billingham, Teesside, is a former owner of The Seven Stars pub, in Durham, and recently sold the city's Pumphouse restaurant.

He said: "Zen is a totally new concept in the region - it has never been done before. It will inject some life into the local Durham culinary and bar scene."