Government has extended the temporary Customs duty relief for restaurants until 2009.

Originally put in place in 2002, the duty relief was to expire at the end of 2004.

?We?re ecstatic,? chairman of the restaurant division of the Chamber of Commerce and Hog Penny, Barracuda Grill and Pickled Onion president Philip Barnett said yesterday.

The Chamber of Commerce had lobbied for the extension, he said, after duty relief for hotels was extended in the last Budget. ?The Minister saw the validity of our argument ... Thank you very much!?

Many restaurants have taken advantage of the duty relief in the last few years to do capital improvements, he said, including the MEF Group, Swizzle Inn, and Barracuda Grill.

?It?s very smart, I think it will bring more money into Bermuda ... We are going to continue to improve our product here.?

The duty relief for restaurants will expire on March 31, 2009.