TRIBUTES have poured in following the death of a charismatic and popular restaurateur who was renowned for “always having a laugh and joke”.

Max Nicolaides, 75, died at home on August 15 in the arms of his wife after being diagnosed with cancer last August.

He was the proprietor of Brent House Carvery in East Brent for 50 years and formed friendships with customers and business clients alike.

And he will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Kevin Cook, a personal friend and local business supplier, said: “I spent quite a lot of time with Max.

“We became such good friends and he treated me like a member of the family.”

Max was born in January 1940 in Yastria, Famagusta, Cyprus, one of ten children.

When he was just 14 he left his home and family to sail to England, accompanied by his six-year-old brother.

On arriving in London, Max sold peanuts at Trafalgar Square and quickly worked his way up in the restaurant trade, to support his family, who joined him a year later.

His most famous customer was Marilyn Monroe, who specifically asked for Max to serve her.

In 1959, Max worked his first summer season in Weston-super-Mare, he met his wife Anna and they and bought their first business, a snack bar called The Barbeque.

In 1964, he and his father-in-law Matthew Solomon bought Brent House, which was a small tearooms at the time.

In 1965 Max and Anna bought her father out .

“Everyone knew him,” said Steve Gallier, a personal friend and goalkeeper in Max’s football team.

“To me he was like a second father and I just can’t speak enough for him.

“He was such a jovial man and was liked by a lot of people because he was always having a laugh and joke.”

Max expanded Brent House from a capacity of 30 to 300 and famous visitors including Lenny Henry, Tony Christie and Roy Walker.

“Max Nicolaides was a showman,” said his grandson Metaxus Nicolaides.

“He delighted customers with his singing in Greek, Italian, French and English, and amazed his audience by lifting tables filled with wine and food with only his teeth.

“Max was loyal to his staff, and in turn they were loyal to him, some of whom have stayed with him for more than 40 years.

Brent House was a very personal and proud achievement.

Even after being given only weeks to live, Max survived another 18 months, when he was able to visit family and friends, go to Cyprus one last time and even go back to Brent House.

Max was always keen to help other people, even cooking a Christmas dinner for paramedics on duty at Christmas.

His two sons Matthew and Andrew continue to run Brent House, and have expressed their sadness at losing “an inspirationally caring and loving man”.

He leaves his wife, Anna, children Nick, Andrew, Matthew, Jason and Marianna, and his grandchildren Thomas, Daisy, Polly, Alex, Max, Robert, Matthew, Isabelle and Chloe.

Max’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church, East Brent on Wednesday August 26 at noon.