Speciality Inn in Smith’s has freshened up its look after undergoing an intensive two-week revamp.

The family-run restaurant on South Road, at the junction with Collector’s Hill, needed to have its air conditioning redone. As that work required the business to temporarily close, the opportunity was taken to also do a number of other improvements.

In one corner is a restyled sushi bar, complete with an eye-catching full-wall mural. New furniture has been installed, walls have been repainted or given new stylised coverings, the bathrooms have been revamped and there is new signage outside.

The restaurant also has new plates, coffee cups and cutlery, and has added waffles, cappuccino, latte and gourmet coffees to its offerings.

It was all-hands on deck to get the work done during the 15-day closure in order to have things completed in time for the reopening this week.

“It was a big team effort. Teamwork is the key,” Fabio Di Vuolo said. For the past six years he has helped run the business with parents Pietro and Maria, and his sister Giovanna Di Vuolo Easton.

His father has been involved since 1985, and often starts his working day at 4am preparing fresh pizza dough, bread and pastries for the day ahead. The restaurant opens at 6am.

Mrs Easton joined her father as a partner in the business in 2004, although both she and her brother were involved in helping out when they were youngsters. she splits her time between the Speciality Inn and running Speciality Cinema in Hamilton.

When asked what was the secret to the continuing popularity of the restaurant, she said it was “good service, good prices and good food”.

Explaining the new look to the sushi bar, she said the aim was to make it a more comfortable place for people to sit and talk with the chef.

The restaurant has a wall display featuring the many awards it has received over the years, and there are framed articles of famous people who have dropped in for a meal, among them Clint Eastwood and former US President Jimmy Carter.

Many customers have been regulars at the restaurant their entire life. Mrs Easton said: “Some of the people came here as children and now they bring their children in.”

Her brother added: “We are grateful for the customer loyalty. We always listen to them.”

• Speciality Inn is open every day from 6am to 10pm, except Sundays when it is closed. There is a website at http://www.specialityinn.bm/