The Fairmont Hamilton Princess has reinvented its flagship Harley's Restaurant and Terrace in a bid to overcome the economic downturn.

The hotel officially announced the reopening of the restaurant yesterday following renovations and the introduction of a new seafood theme, along with a new pub-style menu for its second eatery, The Heritage Court, in response to the latest culinary trends and customer feedback.

Last week, The Royal Gazette revealed that The Fairmont Southampton had reported a shift from high-end to middle-range guests and was changing its strategy to meet the needs of those clients.

The upgrade to Harley's will see the restaurant offer a range of fresh, local seafood, authentic Bermudian flavours, and locally-sourced and sustainable produce, while brunch will be available on Sundays.

"We have built strong relationships with the local fishing community," said Thomas Frost, executive chef at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

"The fish often comes straight from our dock into the kitchen, which makes for extraordinary dining. And we're working with our local farmers so we can bring to our tables the freshest, sustainable and, often, organic Bermudian produce."

Meanwhile, the new interior design at Harley's by Bermudian decorator Sue Kempe will bring a fresh, modern look to the restaurant, with an extension outdoors to a new pool terrace bar on the harbourside.

At The Heritage Court, adjacent to the hotel lobby, the new cuisine will focus on a number of selections such as Dark & Stormy pork ribs, Deep-dish chicken pie and tricolour penne pasta with flame-grilled chicken, shrimp with fennel and wild mushrooms, with dining available indoors or al fresco on the patio.

"We're stepping forward and making bold statements with our changes at both Fairmont Hamilton Princess restaurants and we're seeing a lot of new faces during our soft opening," said Jon Crellin, general manager of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

"Our staff is excited and we've had brilliant feedback from customers who have come to see the changes."

Harley's Restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (closed for dinner on Sundays and Mondays). Complimentary wine tastings will be held in Harley's Private Dining Room between 5.30 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. each Wednesday. The Heritage Court will be open for all-day dining from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.