The Fairmont Southampton is encouraging diners to “take off their jackets and ties” and enjoy a new wave of casual dining options at the hotel.The resort yesterday unveiled plans to reinvent and renew its restaurants — with the biggest change being made at the former Newport Room. The restaurant, reopening on July 16, will be turned into a gastropub, boasting a “warm and cosy pub-like atmosphere”, according to George Terpilowski, the hotel’s managing director.Guests will be able to watch major sporting events, while enjoying great food and an innovative line-up of handcrafted draft beers and fine wines, he explained.Other changes to the hotel’s restaurants include opening a new “contemporary and stylish” waterside lounge at The Waterlot Inn; and updating menus at The Ocean Club and terrace spot The Cabana.Mr Terpilowski said: “On this our 40th year of operation in Bermuda, we at The Fairmont Southampton recognise that our market has evolved.“The tastes and interests of our guests have evolved and so we too must evolve to ensure that The Fairmont Southampton remains host to Bermuda’s most distinctive dining experiences.“We announce significant changes to several of our food and beverage outlets. Changes designed to modernise our restaurants, diversify our menus and broaden their appeal.”The former Newport Room has undergone massive renovations, a change in decor and will feature a new menu “that captures the hottest concept in the culinary world”, Mr Terpilowski said.The newly named eatery ‘The Newport, A Gastropub’ will offer a charcuterie station and fresh raw bar, in addition to it’s original menu items, utilising locally-sourced products.Mr Terpilowski said: “Here you can take off your jacket and tie and go on an innovative culinary adventure, featuring a warm and cosy pub like atmosphere, modern and creative cuisine, a diverse and creative line-up of handcrafted draft beers, fine wine and outstanding service.”The Ocean Club will now feature a seafood-based menu, letting go of some other menu staples like chicken curries. Food and beverage director Steven Stefaniuk said the hotel needed to define its restaurant menus a bit more, so each space had a clear identity.It also wanted its menus to reflect some of the popular food trends seen in the US; and to attract more local clientele.Mr Stefaniuk said: “We got a strong feeling from conversations with some of our local clients they didn’t think some of the restaurants were very open and approachable, from being welcoming and from a price standpoint.“In redesigning the restaurants we brought a lot of our pricing down.“We also wanted locals to know you don’t have to dress up, it doesn’t have to be a formal occasion and you don’t also have to break the bank.”Locals and visitors can enjoy some of the Island’s freshest local catch and the beautiful seaside setting at The Ocean Club, open daily from noon until 9pm.Guests to the new waterside lounge at The Waterlot Inn, called The Dock, can experience cocktails, grilled fare and live entertainment on Wednesday to Sunday at 3pm until 9pm.The Dock will have a “chill [and] sexy vibe” and will be a great place for catching up with friends or relaxing as a couple, said Fairmont Southampton spokesman Jamahl Simmons.The Waterlot Inn goes largely unchanged, but has a newly updated and inspired menu, including time-honoured signature specialities and incorporating bold new flavours.Hotel guests can now enjoy continental breakfast at The Cabana; while locals and tourists can experience the restaurant’s Barbecue on the Beach on Sundays.Bacci on the South Shore will be offering people “a taste of Tuscany” through its handmade artisanal pastas and classic comfort foods like chicken Parmesan and fettuccini alfredo.Mr Terpilowski said “each plate is lovingly prepared using the freshest seasonal ingredients”. “Sweeping views of the ocean, our golf course, and The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse provide the perfect backdrop for dinner,” he added.The new menus are currently available at The Fairmont Southampton’s seven restaurants, including The Ocean Club, The Dock at The Waterlot, The Waterlot Inn, Jasmine, Wickets, The Cabana and Windows on the Sound.The Newport, A Gastropub will reopen on July 16; and be open daily from 5pm until midnight.