A new conference venue will soon open at a landmark restaurant complex on East London's beachfront.

The Esplanade complex that previously housed O'Hagan's stood empty from January last year after the two businessmen who took it over from the O'Hagan's group and renamed it Shenanigans went bankrupt and abandoned the operation.

In April, the owner of the complex, Paolo Ferrucci, opened the upmarket restaurant La Terrazza and an adjoining fine dining restaurant called Il Grifo that both occupy the complex's top floor.

He said the complex's bottom floor is presently being renovated to accommodate conferences and weddings and will open in mid-October.

"We've got the best venue in the country and have had quite a few inquiries about the venue. I feel there is a demand for more conference facilities in the city," Ferrucci said.

Ferrucci, who was part of the civil engineering company Monobulelwa, built the complex in 1993 according to O'Hagan's specifications.

He said although La Terrazza had an extensive menu with popular dishes, Il Grifo had a retro feel and served dishes that were popular in the 1960s.

Daily Dispatch
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge