Although the location may be new, rest assured those things that have made The Swizzle Inn a popular haunt for decades have been carried over to the new The Swizzle South Shore.

“We have identical menus at both venues,” explains owner Jay Correia of the one thing most patrons were concerned about. “The popular items from here have been included in the (Bailey’s Bay) menu, like pizza, but everything from down there is up here.”

The Swizzle South Shore recently opened its doors again after undergoing major renovations to its pub, dining and patio areas. The new location offers a unique blend of casual dining and pub-like atmosphere, perfect for locals and tourists to mix and mingle away from the hustle and bustle of town.

Mr. Correia decided to incorporate healthier items on the kids’ menu, which was already one of the most comprehensive on the island.

“People were always asking where the healthy choices were, even though they never order them!” he says, laughing.

For those beer lovers out there, the bar has finally got three beers on tap — Fosters, Guinness and Sam Adams — and in addition, customers who order a draft, frozen drink or shooter are welcome to keep the logo glassware their beverage comes in as part of their latest promotional venture:

“The Swizzle Inn name is hugely popular, so this was a natural extension.

“Both locals and tourists are buying them up.”

For those looking for an alternative to the faster paced bar scene in Hamilton, The Swizzle South Shore offers a mellow atmosphere with live entertainment in the afternoon and early evening.

“Poncho plays the steel pan in the afternoon, and Wayne Davis plays keyboards in the evening, which just creates this chilled out atmosphere,” Mr. Correia adds. “It’s somewhere people can come, enjoy dinner and relax.”

The Swizzle, although as kid-friendly as ever, caters to a more mature market, those in their 30s and over.

With a stricter dress code after six and the addition of security in the evening, Mr. Correia believes he may have all but stamped out any problems that might pop up in the future.

“We inherited a pre-existing clientele problem and it took a little while to deal with it,” he admits.

“But trouble only stays where it’s allowed to feel comfortable. The new atmosphere does not lend itself to attracting an undesirable crowd.”

On top of the evening security, all staff at The Swizzle, as well as at the Swizzle Inn, are certified in the Training for Interventions Procedures (TIPS) programme, a course offered by the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, which teaches hospitality workers the importance of responsible alcohol sales and service.

“We’ve gone a long way to giving the staff the tools they need to deal with customers in various situations with the desire being to eliminate underage drinking and drunk driving,” he says, noting that few other bars on the island have come on board, although it’s common practice in the United States.

“We’re really trying to do our part to make the roads safer and prevent kids from drinking under age.”

Since reopening, Mr. Correia has had nothing but good feedback from both locals and tourists, and he attributes it to his great team of friendly staff and the fact that The Swizzle franchise is a 100 percent “home-grown original”.

“This is not just a place for tourists to come. It’s a unique product, a Bermudian original consistently offering good food at good prices in a fun, casual atmosphere.”