A beacon of fine dining is set to shine again from tomorrow.

For the Dining Room at Gibbs Hill Lighthouse in Southampton is to reopen tonight after severe damage caused by Hurricane Gonzalo last October.

And Odilio Angeli, boss of Dining Bermuda, which also includes Rustico in Flatts and Gulfstream on South Shore Road, said the staff were keen to get back to work after Gonzalo ripped the roof off last year.

Mr Angeli added: “We will be up and running for Friday at lunchtime, so we’re back in business. The entire roof was damaged and it all had to be replaced.”

He said the dining area only needed a major clean-up — but that the kitchens had been extensively revamped with new equipment.

Mr Angeli added: “My perspective on things is if you’re away, people might tend to forget you.

“But we have a lot of reservations already and I think people are looking forward to us reopening — I’m sure that people will come back.”

And he said: “The staff are all ready and eager to start. They’ve had enough vacation.”

Mr Angeli added that reopening tomorrow meant that the restaurant would also catch an upturn in visitor numbers.

He said: “We’re going into the season — I would have worried if we were opening in November instead of the end of March and start of April.

“I can see an increase in people coming to the Island and I’m feeling positive.”

But he added: “Definitely, we’re not back to the 80s or 90s, but I would suggest we’re definitely on the increase.”

And Mr Angeli said the upcoming America’s Cup series of races would also provide a boost to the west end area as sailing teams in the west end prepare for competition in advance of the 2017 main event.

He added: “For sure, everything that happens in Bermuda of that calibre will be a boost for the economy, not just restaurants.

“With our location, especially with the views we have, we will have a lot of people coming for lunch or dinner and watching the races from up top.”

Mr Angeli said that he was grateful for the work carried out on the damaged Government-owned building by staff from Works & Engineering.

He added: “They worked very hard, sometimes in high winds and difficult conditions, to get the restaurant open for business again.”

The restaurant — which offers casual dining and a wide-ranging cuisine, including trademark pizzas and gourmet burgers, opened six years ago in the premises once occupied by a long-running tea room.

The restaurant, which features regular menu changes, can seat 50 people, with extra space on the outdoor terrace available during the summer months.

The Dining Room is open for lunch from Thursday to Saturday from 11.45am to 2.30pm and for dinner every day from 6:00pm to 10:00pm

Breakfast on Sundays is also available from 10.00am to 2.30pm.

More information is available at www.bermuda-dining.com.