Number 3, Old Market Place, known to many locals as the Old Post Office, has been transformed into a light and airy gallery exhibition centre combined with a bistro and cafe.

There is more to come over the next few months with a programme of music events and exhibitions lined up and the opening of a wine bar on the first floor.

Owners Caryl Challis and Mike Holman previously ran the Harleston Gallery, which opened in in the town's Thoroughfare in 2001.

Ms Challis said its "lack of space had always been a challenge."

They were keen to expand and knew the much larger Old Post Office building had been empty for several years and was for sale.

Built in the late 1700s as a Gurney's Bank (the forerunner to Barclays), the old red brick Georgian building is in the centre of what was then Harleston's thriving and bustling market place.

It was a bank until the 1950s, then became the town's main post office, a solicitor's office and a financial advice centre before falling empty.

As several potential uses for it were put forward – as a private house or for community use – it gradually became derelict.

Ms Challis said: "The next move would have been for it to be developed into flats."

She and Mr Holman bought the building in June 2007, and after an intensive period of refurbishment – much of it done by themselves – they opened Gurney's Bistro and The New Harleston Gallery and Cafe in early May.

Ms Challis described the Grade II-listed building as "a work in progress" with still much to be done.

The ground and first floors with their high ceilings and large original Georgian sash windows let light flood into the rooms.

These are ideal for showcasing the collections of figurative and abstract works by local professional artists ranging from painters and sculptors to ceramicists and jewellery or textile artists, which have been collated by Ms Challis.

There is a double-roomed bistro and coffee shop with two kitchens on the ground floor, and two large gallery spaces on the first floor.

One room currently houses a craft display and sales area but will become a wine bar within the next couple of months and there is also room for a dedicated craft shop.

Eventually the top floor will also be refurbished and possibly let as office space.

Ms Challis said: "The idea with the wine bar is that people will be able to come in for a drink from 5pm onwards and stay for a wander around the exhibition area or sit on the comfy sofa and enjoy a glass of wine whilst soaking up the art in calm and relaxing surroundings."

The building has already become part of the town's community life again, hosting two musical supper evenings as part of this week's Harleston And Waveney Festival.

Other similar events, including a jazz supper on September 18, are planned.

The New Gallery also offers a dining experience for Harleston.