YORK Art Gallery reopens its doors next month after a £445,000 refurbishment - featuring three new exhibitions and a new caf.

Art lovers will be able to enjoy hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes in the caf, which will be situated in the foyer.

The venture will be run by Chris Hartley, who already operates Hartley's fine sandwiches on nearby Lendal Bridge and supplies local businesses with delivered lunches.

Chris said he was "very excited" about working with York Museums Trust on the caf project, which could also feature outdoor tables in Exhibition Square in the summer if planning permission is granted, allowing visitors to relax with views across to Bootham Bar and York Minster.

The nine-month refurbishment has involved a complete redecoration and redisplaying of works, and also the creation of a new area called The Studio, to be used for educational activities and events.

The new exhibitions include Reflections in the main ground-floor gallery, featuring works by some of the world's top artists, such as Monet, Titian and Rembrandt, loaned from the National Gallery in London, paired with the most important paintings from York Art Gallery's distinguished permanent collection.

There will also be an exhibition entitled Through The Needle's Eye, featuring 250 years of quilt-making, displaying historic patchwork quilts from York Castle Museum.

Looking At York is an exhibition of works showing different views of the city of York.

Janet Barnes, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said: "We are very excited about the reopening of the new-look York Art Gallery, which has been made possible by the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the City of York Council.

"The whole project is aimed at increasing the quality of the visit to York Art Gallery as well as being attractive to a much wider audience, particularly young people and schoolchildren."

Funding for the refurbishment included a £272,000 grant from The Heritage Lottery Fund and £85,000 from City of York Council.

The official re-opening of the gallery, on March 19, will be attended by Charles Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, and Ian Carstairs, the chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund's committee for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Updated: 08:37 Thursday, February 17, 2005