Berni Inns

Bristol company Hort's, which was run by Frank and Aldo Berni and Paul Rosse, changed the dining-out habits of Britons for two decades.

After the ending of meat rationing in 1954, the Bemis hoped to import American-style, controlled portion steak and chips catering, served in as authentic an Olde English atmosphere as possible.

The Rummer Hotel in Bristol (sometimes claimed as one of the oldest inns in the country) was their prototype. They heard that the Bristol Corporation-owned pub was available and moved quickly. They won the tenancy and called in a designer who exploited all the period details.