the latest restaurant closure this month.

The owner of the 70-seat Plantation restaurant in Bailey's Bay will next week close its doors permanently, and 24 people -- 14 full-time -- will lose their jobs in the week leading up to Christmas.

Restaurateur Carol West said yesterday that she regrets she is unable to keep the business open. But she told staff this week that a combination of unfortunate circumstances, not the least of which is an ailing tourism industry, will force her to close down next week Saturday.

She intends to put the multi-million dollar, three acre prime Hamilton Parish property on the market and it could mean the permanent closure to a piece of Bermuda heritage, Leamington Caves.

The multi-zoned property has four buildings, including three cottages, and is to be soon appraised for sale. The cottages are currently occupied by restaurant staff.

If business at the restaurant has dropped off in recent years, the downturn in tourism has heavily hit the commercial operation of the caves.

Opened as a business venture in 1918 as the world emerged from the ravages of the First World War, 31,000 visitors were registered for official tours in 1984. By last year, that number had dwindled to less than 10,000.

Mrs. West, who is also the owner of the Frog & Onion restaurant in the Dockyard, said this week, "If you want to experience a part of Bermuda history and have a memorable dinner in the process, we would suggest making reservations today at the Plantation Restaurant, as we will be closing the doors of the restaurant, as well as Leamington Caves on Saturday December 20th.'' She said, "We always maintained the Plantation as a truly Bermudian restaurant and it has really been a labour of love. We feel the restaurant has become somewhat of a tradition to the many loyal patrons over our 17 years of operation.

"But the restaurant business is a tough one -- even at the best of times -- and these last couple of years have been particularly hard.

"I think all my staff and friends know how important the Plantation has been in my life, and how important their support has been.'' Speaking from the restaurant yesterday, she said, "We allowed our heart to run the business, instead of our head. While I've provided employment, in the last couple of years the truth is, that's all I've been doing.

"Business has been bad at the restaurant for the last couple of years.

Truthfully, it has never really made any money. We bought it in June of 1979 and opened the restaurant at the beginning of the year in 1980.

"We kept our heads above water. Some years were good, some were bad. But lately, its operated at a loss.''