One of the north’s best-known hospitality entrepreneurs has died following a battle with cancer.
Simon Dougan, managing director of the Yellow Door catering firm, was a leading light in the hospitality industry for decades.
He co-founded the business more than 30 years ago, during which time it has had a restaurant, deli and also catered for Hillsborough Castle.
He ran the business with beloved wife and chef, author and gardening expert Jilly Dougan.
In 2016, he was awarded an MBE for services to hospitality and catering.
A notice posted on the Yellow Door page read: “It’s incredibly hard to say goodbye to someone who filled the air with so much laughter, passion (and small amounts of swearing).
“Though he’s no longer here in the way we wish, Simon remains with us in the stories we share, the things he taught us and the warmth he has left behind.
“Simon Dougan was a chef like no other; warm, generous, wickedly funny and along with this his determination to feed people the type of food he himself would enjoy; flavoursome; honest; proper plates of food.
“At Yellow Door he built a team reflecting this ethos, championed the very best of Northern Ireland’s food heritage which would later earn him an honorary MBE in 2017.
Tributes poured in for Mr Dougan in the hours following his passing from his many friends, colleagues, customers and business associates.
“This is such sad news”, said one man in an online post.
“Simon was a true gentleman who I got to know well.
“I was one of the original customers of The Yellow Door when it opened in Bridge Street in Portadown and then later in Woodhouse Street.
“It was such a pleasure when Simon would be the chef at Hillsborough Castle when I worked for Secretary of State James Brokenshire and we would chat and laugh about how (by that stage) I had been a customer of Simon’s for over half my life.
“The Yellow Door was and is such an incredible brand, really good food and excellent service and it is a huge shame that its creator is no longer with us. Simon made a huge difference.”
“Simon never attracted any fuss and he’d probably be annoyed at reading this… but here’s to Simon; the chef, family member, mentor and friend whose legacy lives on in everything he instilled and entrusted to everyone here at Yellow Door.
“Thank you for your support during this difficult time from everyone in the Yellow Door family.”
Mr Dougan previously spoke about his brave battle with pancreatic cancer and was also known for his charity work.
The Portadown Chamber of Commerce said in a statement Mr Dougan was “an advocate for fostering our local talent, championing fresh food/produce and embracing new opportunities”, adding they “would like to send our sincere condolences to Jilly, the Dougan family and the entire Yellow Door team on this very sad loss”.
