Gala Theatre & Cinema

You're here for the pre-show ritual, aren't you? Settling into one of the foyer tables with a coffee and sandwich before the curtain goes up, watching the Wear flow past through those big windows. The café might be functional rather than fancy, but it does the job brilliantly – proper coffee, decent paninis, and cakes that won't break the bank. The beauty is in the timing. Rock up early for evening performances and you've got the whole place to yourself, river views included. The location helps enormously – tucked between the Castle and Cathedral, you're in the heart of Durham's most photogenic corner. It's not trying to be anything more than what it is: a solid theatre café that happens to occupy one of the city's best spots.