outdoor dining is flourishing, simply because people like to eat outdoors.

South Florida is making the most of the trend. In many places in Florida eating outside along the beach or the waterfront has been a no-no but Florida is following the demand and making it legal.

Florida's formula of outdoor dining, sometimes accompanied by live music, is luring people who are bored with standard indoor atmosphere. Even places nowhere near the ocean are getting into outdoor dining to help restaurants.

The answer is that it is nice just to be outside.

So where is Bermuda? The truth is that in recent years Bermuda has begun to move back outside after years of air-conditioned restaurants. Indoor restaurants are much the same no matter where you go in the world. Today, there are a number of notable places where you can eat outside in Bermuda, even right beside the water like the Wharf Tavern, the White Horse and the Carriage House in St. George's, Waterloo House in Hamilton or Cambridge Beaches and the Reefs. And there are some others like the beachside Cafe Lido and harbourside Newstead in Paget. The problem is that there is virtually nothing in Hamilton where one of the most beautiful waterfronts in the entire world is wasted on car parking.

In Hamilton there are already a number of restaurants like Monte Carlo which have room for tables outside. Some Front Street restaurants already use their balconies but the real lure is the waterfront.

The Hamilton waterfront needs a restaurant with strolling musicians. It would add life and colour and give the town character. Bermuda needs to be more festive. If the City Fathers do not want it in the busy centre, why not use Barr's Bay Park? That is central and attractive and free of the obstruction of cruise ships. It is also on the walking route from the Pembroke hotels and guest houses into the City. Another waterfront advantage would be the absence of cars between the diners and the water.

We lure people to a holiday island and we must learn to give them an island experience. True, it rains sometimes and it can be very hot outdoors in the summer. The answer is awnings and ceiling fans and casual dress. Relax a little and let the visitors have some fun. Because of service difficulties the answer may also be more casual menus.

Much of whether we dine in or out in Hamilton seems to be controlled by ancient liquor laws which were designed to stop customers handing drinks to people for consumption in the street or not to have passersby observe drinking. Neither is a factor today. Those laws can easily be changed and the whole Liquor Licensing Act is in bad need of revision.