Perry eyes Hayman restaurant deal

Hayman Island is looming as the next stop for Neil Perry's growing restaurant empire, with the chef confirming he is in negotiations its new operators.

Hotel giant Kerzner recently struck a deal to run the resort, which it will relaunch in April as One&Only Hayman Island.

Changes include a revamp of the island's restaurants and bars, with word leaking the resort has Perry in its sights. The chef confirmed any deal would include multi outlets but he doubts his Rockpool Bar and Grill brand would float at Hayman.

"I'm not sure if island life is appropriate for steak. I'd be thinking more seafood up there," Perry says.

Hayman has flirted with change in recent years. Former Berowra Waters Inn chef Dietmar Sawyere briefly relocated to Hayman before moving on. But the new management is throwing a sizeable investment at its infrastructure and Perry's name would be a prized signing given the Queensland island resort market is short on big food names.

"I'm just waiting for them to shoot through the deal and I'll sit down with my partners," Perry says.