Restaurant for evening meals.

His landlord, The Walker Arcade Company, has finally agreed to allow public access to the 90-seat restaurant until 10 pm.

The decision should prove a tremendous boost to the business, which has been on the verge of failing several times since Dutch-born Mr. Buser bought it in 1988.

"I've tried for a long time to get them to do this,'' said Mr. Buser. "It opens up all sorts of exciting possibilities.

"Revenues should increase by 50 percent through dinner trade and should double when we eventually start opening on Sundays.'' One of the main stumbling blocks to opening up the arcade at night had been a concern over possible criminal damage being done to other businesses located at the site and a doubt over who would be liable for the cost.

The restaurant lies in an enclosed area between Reid and Front Streets, in Hamilton, which houses 17 businesses. Until now, security gates at both entrances had stopped people entering the site after normal business hours.

Now Mr. Buser hopes other shops will decide to stay open later and help turn the arcade into a bustling, after-hours shopping and eating area.

"We could all help one another,'' said Mr. Buser. "During times as economically tough as this, businesses need every edge they can get.'' He said his restaurant, which specialises in all-day breakfasts and basic lunches, would start serving dinners in the beginning of May, although he would not give an exact date.

Added to the menu will be beef, chicken, fish and other seafood meals, as well as an assortment of ice cream dishes and European style tea snacks.

The restaurant has been refused a liquor licence and will instead serve non-alcoholic beers and wines to go with a variety of fruit juices and waters.

"We try to cater for people who don't want to spend $30 a head on a meal,'' said Mr. Buser. "There's a large market for people who don't want to spend too much money on a meal.

"My motto is that if you have quality and consistency then quantity will follow.'' He added: "It's been an extremely hard three years, during which the restaurant has been in danger of closing down. But I was determined that this would not be one of the many small businesses that go bankrupt.'' The business was currently profitable, he said, with takings currently up 15 percent on last year, which was itself 30 percent up on the year before.

Mr. Buser, who is married to a Bermudian, came to Bermuda 11 years ago and has worked as head chef at The Harbourfront restaurant and Glencoe Harbour Club dining room, as well as a spell at the Princess Hotel, in Pembroke.

He used to own stereo business Sound Advice and Take Five Restaurant but sold his interest in both firms over the last few years.