FRIENDS and colleagues have paid tribute to a restaurateur described as "one of York's great characters".

Lew Speight, who owned Lew's Place, on King's Staith, and The Grange Restaurant at Shipton-by-Beningbrough, died in a road accident in Spain.

Former Evening Press restaurant critic Robert Beaumont, who knew Lew well, said he would be sorely missed.

He said: "He was a complete one-off, a fantastic restaurateur, brilliantly funny and a superb cook.

"He was one of York's great characters." Ex-patron Simon Wallace, from Plunkets Restaurant in High Petergate, said: "He did things his way and was certainly a one-off in his own field. There will probably be no one else like that again."

Owner of Partner's restaurant in Ousegate, Chris Kwiatkowski, said he would remember Lew's generosity.

He said: "He was a great guy and I enjoyed drinking with him. He upset a lot of people by saying what he thought, but had a heart of gold."

Lew opened Lew's Place in the late 1970s after he got fed up of eating poor food on his travels as a menswear sales representative.

The former pub became one of the most popular places to eat in York. In 1983, he and his wife, Elizabeth, decided to convert half of their home into The Grange Restaurant.

It was a family affair, with their son, Oliver, helping Lew in the kitchen, and daughter, Vicky, waitressing.

Again the restaurant proved to be very popular, and was kept on until the late 90s, before Lew decided to move and start a new life in Spain.

Updated: 10:39 Saturday, January 18, 2003