Berni Inn
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1955, Berni Inn was the name of a chain of British restaurants established by brothers Frank and Aldo Berni, who were Welsh Italians
. The Berni Inn logo consisted of red block lettering, with elongated leading lines on the R and N, throughout the chain's duration. The first Berni Inn was at the The Rummer, a historic public house
in central Bristol
.
The restaurants introduced the post-war British public to its own home-grown restaurant chain, which came with its own pre-stylised restaurants with Tudor-looking false oak beams and white wall. A typical menu was of the form:
The chain quickly expanded, first throughout Bristol and then the rest of the country. Unlike other restaurants, they did not do their own butchery but brought in steaks already chopped. The chain was sold to Grand Metropolitan
for £14.5m in 1970 and then sold to Whitbread
in 1995. Over the following years, British tastes had changed due to foreign travel, and by the late 1990s the chain started losing money. Whitbread announced the closure of the chain, by converting many of the former premises into other Whitbread owned brands, including the steak-orientated Beefeater
or more generalised pub-oriented Brewers Fayre
.
Aldo Berni died in 1997 at the age of 88. Frank died 10 July 2000, aged 96.
The first female manager within the Berni Inn franchise was Mrs Gerda Thut, who took over The Sawyer's Arms in Nottingham
in the 1960s. This was noted as a progressive step in management and equality at the time, and Mrs Thut was known as 'The Lady with the Keys'. Mrs Thut died on the 17th October 2011, aged 86.
Welsh Italians
Welsh Italians are British citizens residing in Wales whose ancestry wholly or partly originates in Italy. Most Italian immigration to Wales took place in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the largest number of migrants settling in Glamorgan and Newport.-Migration history:Italian immigrants...
. The Berni Inn logo consisted of red block lettering, with elongated leading lines on the R and N, throughout the chain's duration. The first Berni Inn was at the The Rummer, a historic public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in central Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
The restaurants introduced the post-war British public to its own home-grown restaurant chain, which came with its own pre-stylised restaurants with Tudor-looking false oak beams and white wall. A typical menu was of the form:
- Starters: melon boat with maraschino cherryMaraschino cherryA maraschino cherry is a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties...
, or prawn cocktailPrawn cocktailPrawn cocktail is a seafood dish consisting of "shelled prawns in mayonnaise and tomato dressing, served in a glass". It was the most popular hors d'œuvre in Great Britain in the 1970s.-External links:*... - Main course: steakSteakA steak is a cut of meat . Most are cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers, improving the perceived tenderness of the meat. In North America, steaks are typically served grilled, pan-fried, or broiled. The more tender cuts from the loin and rib are cooked quickly, using dry heat, and served whole...
, Gammon Steak or plaicePlaicePlaice is the common name of four species of flatfishes.Plaice or PLAICE may also refer to:* USS Plaice , a Balao-class submarine* PLAICE, an open source hardware FLASH programmer, memory emulator, and logic analyzer...
with chips, and peas - Dessert: Black Forest gateauBlack Forest gateauBlack Forest gateau and Black Forest cake are the English names for the German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte , literally "Black Forest cherry torte"....
, plus Irish coffeeIrish coffeeIrish coffee is a cocktail consisting of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, stirred, and topped with thick cream. The coffee is drunk through the cream. The original recipe explicitly uses cream that has not been whipped, although whipped cream is often used. Irish coffee may be considered a...
and After EightAfter EightAfter Eight Thin Mints are a confectionery product described as "mint enrobed in dark chocolate" and are intended, as the name suggests, to be used as after-dinner mints. They were created in 1962 by Rowntree & Company Limited...
mints
The chain quickly expanded, first throughout Bristol and then the rest of the country. Unlike other restaurants, they did not do their own butchery but brought in steaks already chopped. The chain was sold to Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan
Grand Metropolitan plc is a former United Kingdom-based company operating hotels, holiday centres, entertainment centres, public houses and casinos...
for £14.5m in 1970 and then sold to Whitbread
Whitbread
Whitbread PLC is a global hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company headquartered in Dunstable, United Kingdom. Its largest division is Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with around 580 hotels and over 40,000 rooms. Its Costa Coffee chain has around 1,600 stores across 25...
in 1995. Over the following years, British tastes had changed due to foreign travel, and by the late 1990s the chain started losing money. Whitbread announced the closure of the chain, by converting many of the former premises into other Whitbread owned brands, including the steak-orientated Beefeater
Beefeater (restaurant)
Beefeater is a chain of pub restaurants in the United Kingdom, owned by Whitbread. There are currently 131 Beefeater restaurants in the UK.- History :...
or more generalised pub-oriented Brewers Fayre
Brewers Fayre
Brewers Fayre is a chain of around 125 licensed family and casual dining pub restaurants in the United Kingdom, owned by Whitbread.They are known for serving traditional British pub food, including gammon and steak & ale pie which are among the most popular choices. Nearly all Brewers Fayres are...
.
Aldo Berni died in 1997 at the age of 88. Frank died 10 July 2000, aged 96.
The first female manager within the Berni Inn franchise was Mrs Gerda Thut, who took over The Sawyer's Arms in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in the 1960s. This was noted as a progressive step in management and equality at the time, and Mrs Thut was known as 'The Lady with the Keys'. Mrs Thut died on the 17th October 2011, aged 86.