It is not meals on wheels but it will be meals among wheels with news that the Carriage House Museum is to become the Carriage House Restaurant.

Proprietor George Hoerrmann yesterday told The Royal Gazette that at least in the short term, the restaurant will be taking over the museum space. The Carriage House, the long established upscale St. George's eatery, was left without premises to operate in after Hurricane Fabian caused damage that Mr. Hoerrmann categorised as requiring "extensive renovation".

Although the establishment's kitchen is "functional" according to Mr. Hoerrmann and the bar is "salvageable", he said the dining room of the restaurant was "smashed to smithereens" including damage to the structure as well as "having to replace everything else" after dining tables, chairs and dishes were destroyed.

Mr. Hoermann said the Carriage House Restaurant's premises - normally located in the same building as the museum but on the floor below - now required significant repairs that were not expected to be completed before next spring at the earliest. But in an effort to keep the restaurant open through the winter, Mr. Hoerrmann said building owner, the Wilkinson Trust, was working with the restaurant to accommodate it upstairs. To accommodate these plans, Henry Laing of the Wilkinson Trust confirmed yesterday that they had agreed to put the museum's carriages into storage and turn the space over temporarily to the restaurant.

The roof above the Carriage House Museum itself sustained damage in the storm, but Mr. Hoerrmann said short-term measures were being put in place to secure the roof and allow for the building to re-open as an eating establishment within the next fortnight.

"We have an army of people working here, and we are pushing to be back in business in two weeks. We are buying new supplies right now and there is plywood being put up on the roof at this moment," Mr. Hoerrmann said.

Meanwhile, neighbouring St. George's restaurant San Giorgio yesterday reported that it was re-opened for business. Owner James Perry told The Royal Gazette that the establishment had lost about one-third of its roof but was able to secure it on Saturday and open back up for diners on Sunday. "We replaced the roof on Saturday like madmen," Mr. Perry said, adding that the fix-it job with tar paper, plywood and silicone was a temporary measure while they waited for a shipment of DuraSlate, "the only roofing material available," being brought in by SAL.

Other St. George's restaurants - including the White Horse Tavern and Tavern by the Sea - also re-opened for business at the weekend.