TRIBUTES have been paid to a Llangollen restaurateur credited with opening "Wales' oldest wine bar", who has died at the age of 71.

Richard Gale passed away after heart surgery on Sunday, leaving behind a lasting legacy at Gales of Llangollen, which he opened in one of the town’s most historic buildings back in 1977.

Gales has built a world wide reputation for fine wines and food and is an award-winning establishment, most recently triumphing in the North Wales Seafood Challenge where head chef Jack Hatley's surf and turf special wowed the judges.

Delivering such excellence became standard for Gales under Richard's tutelage says his son, Andrew, who says he hopes everyone in the town will raise a glass in memory of his father and his love of wines.

Despite having taken a backseat to allow his other son, Pip, to take over the day-to-day running of the Bridge Street establishment, Andrew pointed out: "Dad's passion was being in the bar and talking to people. People's lives were changed because they sat down at the bar and be engaged in chat with him.

"With food he was keen on pushing the bar higher and he had some fine chefs over the years. Dad brought in Jack who has transformed the food and he continued to encourage Pip to bring in new ideas.

"We didn't realise until he went into hospital last week how much he was still doing day to day."

It wasn't all plain sailing for Richard, though, when the idea of opening a wine bar in Llangollen was first mooted on his visits the town in his role as a marketing manager based in the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

Richard, originally from Dorset, and his wife, Gillie, converted 13th century premises that had once served as a coaching hostelry but found some locals were uncertain about the virtues of opening a wine bar.

A Leader story, headline titled 'Plonk shop plan slammed' summed up their concerns, but Richard persuaded licensing magistrates of the merits of what in the 1970s was a novel concept of serving wine at an eatery.

"Gales' success was down to his personality. He was massively respected in the wine industry. He shipped all his own wine and he was a member of the Punt Club for wine professionals," added his son.

"I remember going to a wine fair at ExCeL London and every single person there seemed to come up and say "hello" to him."

Richard, who underwent heart surgery in 2010, went under the knife again at the weekend, and his son said: "Before he went in he had looked better than he had in years and he was in good spirits and we thought he would beat the odds.

"His passing leaves a gigantic hole in our lives. We've had messages from all over the globe and we are setting up a Facebook page for people to leave their tributes."

As well as Andrew, a commercial photographer, and Pip, the restaurateur leaves wife, Gillie, who manages Gales' wine and gift shop, as well as a daughter, Holly.

Llangollen mayor Cllr Sheena Burrell said: "This will be a great loss to the town. Richard was a lovely man, who was well respected and well liked in Llangollen."