The Wok restaurant is to be sold after 14 years in business on Bermudiana Road. Former owners Art and Sharon Riviere have run the Chinese-style restaurant for 14 years, but are moving on to a new business venture in Bermuda.

The Wok outlet occupies a prime piece of real estate opposite the XL building on Bermudiana Road but retains a mainly locale clientele and has yet to establish a following among exempt company employees. Housed on one of Hamilton's most popular stretches for restaurants, home to Portofino, Little Venice and L'Oriental, the Wok has been widely regarded as ripe for a make-over. However according to sources, the present staff will remain and little will change under new management at the Wok.

New owner, Leon Bascombe, said he would be introducing some local Bermuda fare to the menu but declined to go into further detail.

Mr. Riviere said of the new owner: "I hope he can take it from where it is and move much higher."

Olson taking over Loyalty Inn

Somerset's Loyalty Inn has changed hands again and from Thursday will be under the same management as The Beach.

New owner, Rick Olson, says that he has taken a long lease at an "attractive price" from owner, Dennis Vickers and will be re-opening the bar and restaurant under a new name: "The Salt Rock Grill."

Plans include Friday night barbecues, codfish on Sunday and live music at the week-end.

Asked whether it will be a similar to the Beach, Mr. Olson says: "It will be more geared towards locals." There will be a few gambling machines, but not in the immediate future. He says he was attracted to the venue because of the amount of space and the sea views: "It's the perfect venue for outdoors events" . The spacious kitchen can also be used for catering.