Operators of the Snorkel Park at Dockyard are set to expand the facility and open a new bar and restaurant next month, subject to final Government approval.

Raymond Lambert and other partners in the venture have applied for a liquor license for the new restaurant, to be named the Hammerhead Bar and Grill. Mr. Lambert owns Windjammer Watersports Ltd., which also operates out of Dockyard. He and his partners are in the process of putting the finishing touches to the beachfront building they hope will house the new bar and eatery, which according to Mr. Lambert will allow for inside and outside seating.

?The building has a substantial amount of space for the restaurant and bar, with extra space for functions as well and outside live entertainment,? said Mr. Lambert.

?We think that adding a bar and restaurant up here has been long-awaited by both the visitors and locals,? he added. ?We intend to include a live music component ? live music is what the visitor is looking for, and locals as well.?

According to Mr. Lambert the group received provisional approval for the liquor license in June and the application is scheduled to be heard at a special session of the Liquor Licensing Authority on October 6.

The new bar and restaurant is the next phase of development for the site which Mr. Lambert indicated had already fulfilled its promise over the summer in terms of its snorkelling and water activities.

?The Snorkel Park was built based on what was one of the primary requests from the cruise ships for their passengers, that was definitely a driving force behind it,? he said. ?But we also wanted to develop something that was suitable for all people here, so we have locals as well as visitors. Our objective was to get the ball rolling this year as a summer facility and we achieved that; it?s gone really well.?

He added that adding a restaurant and bar is part of the plan to make the facility a year-round venue eventually, after assessing the potential over the upcoming ?off? season.

?We know it?s the end of the season and recognise the variables that bring challenges in the winter,? he said. ?There?s no point right now in opening a restaurant just so that it loses money right away.?

Which is why initially, if final approval is received, the bar will only be open during the Snorkel Park opening hours (9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily), and the restaurant will not open for regular service to the public until spring of next year.

?But the kitchen will be open for (booking) private functions when we open next month,? said Mr. Lambert. ?In fact we are planning to open and have a function over the weekend of the Bermuda Music Festival, and the bar will be open to the public.?