Rumours are flying around that The Picture House will open this week; maybe early this week. The staff are sending out mixed messages. One nicknamed the Ice Queen said the curtain goes up on Tuesday, 3 October. Another Miss Grumpy barked, “No way!” We have been unable to reach co-owners Kim Minards or Robert Cooper to get confirmation.
Kim has changed her mind. It is not going to be The Botanist. The community breathed a sigh of relief. The Picture House is a much more attractive name based on the location’s heritage. The building housed a cinema in the days before reclamation pushed the sea back.
The Picture House will be a gastro-pub, according to Kim, English-style “pubby and gardeny”. Historic photos will adorn the walls. Most of Steamers former staff will be back, including the Ice Queen and Miss Grumpy. The owners are Enoteca Group which has eight other restaurants, including Sai Kung’s the Conservatory.
Robert and Kim qualify as locals — they live at Clearwater Bay — but modestly say “we’re newbies”. She is a Brit brought up in South Africa, he’s from England.
Sai Kung is ready for a new pub. Steamers approached local icon status. The community waits with anticipation to see it reincarnated.
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