Popular Bristol cafe owner will be sadly missed

One of Bristol's best-loved chefs, John 'The Caff' Wright, has died.

John, 64, who owned John's Cafe on Midland Road in Old Market, had a heart attack on Wednesday while cycling part of the Strawberry Line route in North Somerset.

His friend of 30 years, Ian Johnson, had spent the day with him.

Ian, 53, of Nailsea, said: "John had a lovely day. We went on a bike ride because he had decided to get himself fit. His final meal was a ploughman's at The Crown Inn in Churchill, overlooking the Mendips. He said to me how much he had enjoyed being out in the countryside and getting fresh air.

"But half way back, John sadly had a massive heart attack, and despite the efforts of paramedics, he didn't make it.

"He will be missed by loads of people in Bristol – he was an absolute character, a legend in his own lunchtime."

According to Ian, John was fit and healthy and had not had any problems with his heart before.

Born in London, John left school at 14 and went to work for De Beers in Zambia and Bermuda, working his way up from office boy to company secretary before leaving for a change of career and a move to Bristol in the late Seventies.

He opened his first cafe – The Victoria Café – in Victoria Street in 1979, serving a popular mix of doorstep 'sarnies', home cooked delicious food and banter.

In 1985 he moved to Midland Road, opening initially as a candlelit bistro serving French food during the week and Sunday lunches.

But after visiting his daughter Suzanne in London, who took him to a pub serving Thai food for a fiver, he bought himself a few Thai cookbooks and changed direction.

From then on he served his own customised version of Thai dishes during the week but continued with his legendary Sunday roasts.

More recently, he also launched his own set of takeaway Thai curry sauces for 'instant cheat meals', accompanied by his own cheeky, laid-back cooking instructions.

A devoted family man, John ran the restaurant with his wife Janice, and was often helped out in front of house by his daughter Suzanne.

Evening Post food critic Mark Taylor said: "John Wright was one of those rare things: a restaurateur who actually liked people and who loved feeding them.

"A raconteur, musician and devoted family man, John was the sort of person you hoped you would bump into in the pub because he was such great company.

"Funny, charming and with strong opinions, he didn't suffer fools gladly, especially when it came to food and drink and he knew what he was talking about.

"For a man who had never set foot in Thailand, John Wright cooked the cuisine of that country better than many Thai chefs.

"For more than 25 years, John's Café was a Bristol institution and whether it was the legendary Sunday lunch or the authentic Thai food, you could rely on it to be of the highest quality because he really cared."

John is survived by his widow Janice, two children, Suzanne and Martin, and four grandchildren Lilly, Rosie, Ava and Johnny.

The family have yet to decide the future of the restaurant which will remain closed for the time being.

You can pay tribute to John Wright at Lasting Tribute.