A new restaurant celebrates the Island's maritime heritage amid an extraordinary mural of the seafaring ships of the mid-nineteenth century.

At The Point restaurant you can enjoy fine dining surrounded by Clippers, whaling ships and the great harbours of the world such as Hong Kong and Constantinople.

After years of painstaking craftsmanship, The Point finally opens to the public tomorrow at Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa.

Guests can wine and dine in luxurious surroundings or enjoy the sunset over Harrington Sound al fresco on the Terrace.

The restaurant seats 92 and also offers private dining in its Wine Room surrounded by 3,000 bottles of vintage wine.

The centrepiece however, is an 80ft mural which winds around the room, taking you from Hong Kong in the 1800s to Canton, Lahaina in Maui, Beirut, Constantinople (Istanbul), London, Rio de Janeiro, Gloucester in New England, and New York.

It originally adorned the walls of the Pan Am building in Manhattan and was an artwork commissioned by the founder of Pan American World Airways, Juan Trippe, in the 1960s.

Created by Gerard d'Alton Henderson, an internationally-acclaimed Eurasian artist, the mural was painted in oils on canvas and depicts the great ports of the mid-eighteenth century.

Mr. Trippe was an admirer of Clipper ships and named his Pan Am aircraft after them. The mural featured in the entrance lobby to Pan Am's Sky Club for 45 years, until its closure in 2005.

Inspired by the images and to protect his father's legacy, the artwork has now been brought to Bermuda by his son Ed Trippe, president of Tucker's Point Club.

Mr. Trippe successfully bid for the mural under auction and transported the paintings to the Island. The Tucker's Point team then commissioned West Coast muralist Doug Bowman to weave the scenes together around the dining room, and to create an eighth mural depicting Bermuda's own maritime heritage.

In the same style of Mr. Henderson, a painting of Hamilton Harbour in the 1800s now features in the mural, with a depiction of the Spirit of Bermuda sloop in the foreground.

Mr. Trippe said yesterday: "The opening of this restaurant brings me particular pride because it has a very personal touch. My father was very fond of these murals so for me to have them here is very meaningful."

He said: "Bermuda is all about seafaring and harbours, and the mid-nineteenth century was its great age of sailing, ships and sloops, so I think it fits very well."

Eric Brooks, chief operating officer of Tucker's Point Club, said: "Much of Tucker's Point today has been built for our international and club members, but The Point is something special. It has been developed for all of Bermuda."

Mr. Brooks said the mural cost between $200,000-$300,000 to buy, store, transport and then install. The costs of the restaurant itself are estimated at $2 million.

Executive chef Serge Bottelli aims to offer the finest fare from Bermuda, New England and Europe, with a regular menu but also a choice of 'land' and 'sea' dishes that will change daily.

Culinary aficionados can also enjoy his 'chef's table' in the kitchen, where a customised tasting menu is available for up to 12 people.

Swiss-born Mr. Bottelli said: "The restaurant is beautiful and we are going to produce some fantastic food and service. We will try and invent something different every day."

The Point restaurant opens for dinner every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but will be open daily from April 1 the official opening of Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa. To make a reservation telephone 298-4000.