Owner of night spot The Beach Rick Olson is hoping to topple the Lemon Tree?s popularity as Friday?s happy hour drinking spot with a revamped D?Mikado?s.

He has take over management of the large Front Street venue at Pier Six with a view to buying it. He joked: ?We want to give the park back to the winos. The Lemon Tree is taking away their home.?

The roof-top event featuring a DJ starts at 5 p.m. today but will be moved indoors if it rains.

Mr. Olson also hopes to revamp the indoor scene. The venue is owned by Nelson Hunt and used to be known as the Surf Club which featured entertainer Jimmy Keys.

He said: ?We are looking for a Brazilian/Cuban theme ? high energy, trendy, the opposite of the low energy, didn?t-know-it-was-there sort of thing.

?People are waiting for something new to happen. We will be able to do it.?

Live music is ?absolutely, definitely? part of the plan for next year said Mr. Olson who is planning a trip to New York to interview hopefuls.

However he said the indoor venue, which can hold several hundred, would still keep the lounge atmosphere in order not to interfere with the sushi restaurant and to appeal to the 30-50-year-old crowd who do not have a lot of alternatives said Mr. Olson.

His team will be handling food and drinks for the venue.

?It?s just a management arrangement. It could be temporary or long term, or we could merge as partners or take it outright.

?We are trying to work something out. The facilities are under-utilised. It?s a great place for a party, happy hour, whatever.?

The outdoor venue is large enough to attract 500-600 people said Mr. Olsen who envisages a Jahstice-style band playing the venue next year.

?There?s a lot of space up top. We want to fully utilise the facility. How many people know that it exists??

Mr. Olson, who plugs the Beach with witty radio adverts, will be taking to the airwaves to publicise D?Mikado?s which could soon get a name change as well as a make over.

He joked: ?We call the Beach the Shame of Front Street so maybe Mikado?s will be labelled the Pride of the Harbour.

?People will walk down Front Street and there will be a big neon sign getting their attention.?

Punters will pay the usual $5 drink ticket charges but Mr. Olson said oriental food would be slightly discounted at $5 a plate.

Mr. Olson also said he was considering getting live music in The Beach. He said: ?It has been doing the same thing for the last three years.

Fresco?s is debuting its Latin Lounge weekend Saturday night for the over 30s.

Managing Director Claudio Vigilante said it would be aimed at the after dinner crowd who don?t want to go home straight away but don?t want to hang out in crowded bars.

Running on Friday and Saturday nights the Latin Lounge, with a $10 cover charge, will feature dancing in the court yard and seating in the downstairs bar with late night snacks.

Mr. Vigilante said the upstairs bar at the Chancery Lane venue would run as normal without a cover charge.