Fairmont Southampton?s beachfront restaurant the Whaler Inn will close tomorrow, but hotel officials denied rumours that it will undergo a major renovation.

Food and beverage director Peter Finnegan said yesterday that it was only a seasonal closure that was a ?very normal operational closure (for the hotel) as at least one restaurant at the resort closes each year.?

He added the restaurant will still be open for special functions.

Last year, The Rib Room closed and was renovated into Bacci. The Whaler Inn also closed last year at the end of September.

While staff have said that they are still seeing as many as 200 diners each night at dinner, Mr. Finnegan said that hotel bases its decision to close down restaurants each year on hotel occupancy rates.

Mr. Finnegan said that the hotel is considering a renovation however it has not yet decided the extent or nature of it or whether it will proceed. The restaurant?s some 20 seasonal and full-time staff will be reassigned to the remaining restaurants on the property after Saturday.