Parish, was finalised this week.

The new owners, Mr. Dick Butz and his wife Mrs. Toni Butz, intend to open The Hunt Club Tavern, through a limited liability company, The Hunt Club Ltd.

"We hope to be open before April, depending on the issuance of the required general building permit by Government to do our renovations,'' said Mr. Butz.

"We are all ready to begin work now. We are fully financed and it could all begin tomorrow afternoon, but we have to go through this process of getting Government certificates and permits, and it takes time, it is very slow coming.

"People are not as interested as maybe they should be in supporting new businesses,'' he said. "The wheels seem to grind very slow.'' There was no indication of the purchase price for the property and he would not say the estimated value of the required renovations.

He did say that he was looking for a chef and a maitre d' and that there would be a total of between 10 and 15 staff hired.

The property was formerly the Cottage Bakery, which was closed some time ago and the property was put on the market by owner and former MP Mr. Anthony Correia.

CAPCAR Enterprises assisted with the financing for the purchase of the property and real estate agent, Mr. Steel Butz (Mr. Butz's son) was the acting agent.

The new owner said: "I always had an interest in my own restaurant, since I was a child.'' The American-born Mr. Butz, now with Bermudian status, has long ties with the construction industry.

Both his father and grandfather were general contractors, and Mr. Butz came to Bermuda in 1962 with the US Navy's Seabees.

Fourteen years ago, he opened Butz Construction in Bermuda. He sold it two years ago.

Mr. Butz said the dining room will be enlarged.

"We hope to serve about 150 people in total,'' he said. "We are also licenced for the patio outside in the front of the building, which we will improve, because it is good for the summer time.'' A provisional liquor licence has been granted for the tavern, which will be run by Mr. Donald Hassell.

It is understood the tavern concept was Mr. Hassell's brainchild, and he had planned to purchase the property himself, with Mr. Butz providing support. But after much discussion, Mr. Butz took over the idea.