Joanne Akarsu, left, and Bethany Kay outside the Rib N Reef restaurant in Durham Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT
A COUNTY Durham family has just opened their latest venture, transforming a former fashion shop into a brand new "high end" steak and seafood restaurant.
After more than five months, and one national lockdown, the former Psyche in Durham City has been left barely recognisable as the family-run Rib N Reef opened this week.
Owned by Durham family, Joanne and Cengiz Akarsu, and managed by daughter Bethany Kay, the restaurant has been among the highly-anticipated names to come to the city.
It comes as a string of independents including The Curious Mr Fox, The Butcher's Deli and Stirks Steakhouse in Belmont have opened across Durham in the past few weeks.