Happy Eater, everybody!

You didn't think I was going to wish you 'Happy Easter', did you?

Happy Eater was a family-friendly restaurant which rivalled Little Chef and was well-known for its facilities for children. They were set up in 1972 by Michael Pickard, who decided to leave Trust Houses group when they merged with Forte in 1970. Michael Pickard was later joined by former Trust Houses colleague Allen Jones, who set up Welcome Break restaurants in the 1970s and these restaurants were rebranded as Happy Eater, with the Welcome Break name retained for future ventures by the company.

In 1980, Happy Eater and its 21 restaurants were taken over by the Imperial Group. Trusthouse Forte bought Happy Eater in 1986, at which point directors Allen Jones and Jane Pickard went on to form AJ's, which was very similar to Happy Eater. Trusthouse Forte were bought by Granada in 1995. Granada converted all the Happy Eaters to Little Chef on the basis that they make more money. However, this meant that Little Chef were now rivalling themselves, which led to a mass-closure of restaurants. Ironically, this and other issues caused Little Chef to fall in to administration in 2007.

Sir Rocco Forte allegedly had a gentleman's agreement with the Whitbread Group that they would buy Happy Eater if Forte ever faced a hostile takeover, but this didn't happen.

Happy Eater was rumoured to be making a comeback under R Capital ownership in 2010 with a site at Gordano, but this has never happened either.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a great time!


Tris Stock is a secular atheist, sceptic, pop-philosopher and writer trying very hard to build up a following with a view to one day make an income from doing what he loves. Please follow him on Google+, Twitter and Facebook.