The home of the hamburger
Wimpy was an American import – the brainchild of a German immigrant to the States, Ed Gold, who, in 1934, set up a small hamburger chain. The inspiration for the name was J Wellington Wimpy, the hamburger-scoffing friend of Popeye.
The first UK Wimpy 'Bar' opened in 1954 at the Lyons Corner House in Coventry Street, London. Its popularity led to separate Wimpy Bars, serving only hamburger-based meals.
At the company’s peak, in 1970, there were a thousand Wimpy restaurants across twenty-three countries. Now owned by Famous Brands a South African branded food services business, it still has 71 restaurants in the UK, they are still found in many towns and cities, including Huddersfield, Clacton-on-Sea, Clarence Pier in Southsea and Brean Leisure Park in Somerset, all aiming to be the new location for artists, writers and artisan bakers.