Charles Forte was born as Carmine Forte in Mortale, now Monforte, Casalattico, in the province of Frosinone, Italy on 26 November 1908, eldest son of Rocco Giovanni Forte and Maria Luigia, daughter of Michelangelo Antonio Forte.
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At the outbreak of World War II, Charles Forte was interned in the Isle of Man due to his Italian nationality, but he was released after only three months.
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Charles Forte purchased the Hungaria Restaurant in Lower Regent St in 1955.
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Trust Houses Group Ltd and Charles Forte Holdings were merged in 1970 to become Trust House Charles Forte or THF.
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Charles Forte's empire included the Little Chef and Happy Eater roadside restaurants, Crest, Forte Grand, Travelodge and Posthouse hotels, as well as the wine merchant Grierson-Blumenthal and a non-controlling majority stake in the Savoy Hotel.
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Charles Forte was the CEO from 1971 and chairman from 1982 of the Group.
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Charles Forte passed full control to his son Rocco in 1993, but soon the plc was faced with a hostile takeover bid from Granada.
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Charles Forte was knighted by The Queen Mother in 1970 and created a life peer on 2 February 1982 as Baron Charles Forte, of Ripley in the County of Surrey.
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In January 1943, Charles Forte married Irene Mary, daughter of Giovanni Chierico, of Venice; her family ran a delicatessen on Wardour Street, Soho.
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Irene, Lady Charles Forte died 12 September 2010, and she is buried with her husband.
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Lord Charles Forte's family came from Mortale, in the Lazio region of Southern Italy, where he retained the family home.
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