Tributes have been paid to a long-serving York pub landlord.
Keith McLean ran Ye Olde Shambles Tavern with his partner Sue Woodward since it opened 13 years ago.
He died on Tuesday, surrounded by family, aged 79.
Sue and Keith bought the property on Shambles in 2008, and originally turned it into a gift shop and café.
They then created the Shambles Tavern and when it opened in 2013 it became the first pub on the famous street since The Globe closed in 1936.
With its friendly atmosphere and terrific range of beers it quickly became a favourite with locals and tourists alike.
“He was lovely,” said Chantelle McArthur, who has worked in the Tavern since it opened.
“We’ve got a lot of regulars here that have been coming for 13 years, just because of how nice he was.
“A lot of the regulars say they see it as family. I think it’s because it’s so tight in the front bar that you have to talk to everybody.
“He was more like a grandad than a boss.”
Regular John Hilton has been coming the the Shambles Tavern since the day it opened.
“Over the years Keith just became a friend. He was never a landlord, he was just a genuine person,” John told YorkMix.
“They always called him ‘Keith the boss’ because at the end of the day, he was the boss.
“He was a genuine gentleman. He just made you feel welcome. You go to those big chains, you’re just a customer, but in here you’re a person.”
Keith was a chartered accountant by training. “I think a lot of it came from when he was an accountant,” John said. “You learn people.
“People would ask him to sort their accounts out. But his account was us. We were his account, in the end.
“That’s what made it such an enjoyable place, and him such a lovely person.
“We will miss him desperately. The funeral coming up is going to be truly, truly sad.”
Sadly Sue died last year. Keith leaves a daughter and grandchildren, Paula, Grace, Sam and Neveah.
