A Bermudian couple have renovated a historic inn in the US and given its restaurant an island flavour.

Allan Powell and wife Kathy took over the Tilton Inn in New Hampshire three years ago and renamed the restaurant Onions Pub and Restaurant in honour of their home.

And the menus feature an island twist with Bermudian favourites like fish chowder, fish and chips and bangers and mash.

Mr Powell, who ran the Wharf Tavern in St George’s and later Freddie’s pub on the square, said: “Our story is we were offered a chance to own and resurrect this historic inn in Tilton, New Hampshire at a price we could not say no to.”

Ms Powell, who formerly worked for a reinsurance company, said: “We’ve grown and we’ve got a good local clientele.

“And there are a few people from Bermuda, or who have lived there, who have come by and enjoyed some of our food.”

She added: “It’s amazing how many people have been to Bermuda, whether it’s recently or years and years ago.

“It’s nice for people to be able to get a dark ‘n’ stormy or a rum swizzle without having to travel.”

Ms Powell said: “The food has a couple of Bermudian offerings and a bit of an English flavour to it.

“It includes some of the items Allan had in the Wharf restaurant which he brought here.”

The couple took over the inn, which dates back to 1875, six years ago and embarked on an ambitious plan to revamp it.

Mr Powell said: “Business has grown at a steady pace and we are turning a profit after three years.

“We are on pace to have the restaurant and the inn completely rebuilt by 2020 at which point we will be looking to retire back to Bermuda.”

He admitted: “It was a hard decision to leave the country we love so much.”

Mr Powell also worked at the Coral Beach Club, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Swizzle Inn, and the former White Heron, in Warwick, which served as the inspiration for Onions restaurant.

The couple’s daughter Haley is the former US national sailing champion in the Optimist class and only the second Bermudian woman to compete at the Optimist world championships.

The hotel’s website includes a history of why onions are so closely linked to Bermuda and an explanation of its early name of the Isle of Devils due the loud call of the native cahows.

It is claimed the inn has its own ghost, a 12-year-old girl called Laura, who is said have burnt to death in a fire in a previous inn that stood on the site more than 100 years ago.