A LANDMARK Durham cafe once popular with university students is to be turned into an off-licence and convenience store.

Reena Nayyar has been granted a premises licence for the former Brown Sugar café and bar, at New Elvet, Durham.

Durham County Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee heard Mrs Nayyar plans to open the business each day between 7am and 11pm.

The off-licence will operate during the same hours.

She told the committee that she planned to work with the police to ensure that there were no problems at the business.

“If someone comes in and they are drunk then we will not serve them," she said. "I will get a description of them and I’ll give it to the police.”

Permission for the off-licence was granted at the meeting at County Hall, Durham, today. (Tuesday, January 21).

Speaking afterwards Mrs Nayyar said: “It it the first time that I have ever done that so I wasn’t sure what to expect but we’re very happy that it has gone so well.”