A FORMER Weymouth publican who became a well-known face on the seafront has died.

Tributes have been paid to Mike Hunt, 68, who died of heart failure in hospital following a battle with cancer.

Family and friends said he was a quiet but well-liked man who was hard working, loved his family and enjoyed telling a joke.

Although he lived in Dorchester for the past decade, Mike was born in Weymouth and ran many businesses there.

While he may have been familiar to many running a refreshment kiosk on Weymouth Beach at Lodmoor with wife Christine, Mike had a varied career that saw him in assorted jobs from engineer to bus conductor.

It was while working at Wellworthy’s in 1970 that he had an idea with colleagues to drive around the world in a van. As reported in the Echo, they made it as far as India before turning back – but had a lot of stories to tell on their return.

It was behind the bar pulling pints that Mike got to know many people.

He was barman at the Duke of Albany in Weymouth and went on to run the Little Ship on Portland, the Victoria in Dorchester, and the Wellington, the Term-inus and Baxters, later Bogart’s, nightclub in Weymouth.

Mike became a familiar face to commuters when he ran the refreshment kiosk at Weymouth train station.

Never one to miss a business opportunity, he set up a food stall at Castle Cary station in Somerset when music fans headed to the Glastonbury Festival.

Mike ran Greenhill Gardens Café before setting up the beach kiosk opposite the Sea Life Park, a venture he was involved in for about 10 years.

Wife Christine said: “He loved it up there – he said it was like being abroad.

“During quiet times he’d sit in his chair and enjoy the view.”

She added: “He was hard working right up until the day he became ill.

“He was also a devoted husband and father.

“He was our world. We all relied on him.”

Mike’s friend Michel Hooper-Immins said: “Many people will remember Mike for his good cheer with which he greeted all his customers.”

Mike was a big Football fan and in his younger days he managed Weymouth Football Club’s successful youth team and became a qualified referee. As well as wife Christine, Mike leaves children Claire, Jason and Tracey and 10 grandchildren.

l The funeral will be held at Weymouth Crematorium on Tuesday, February 22 at 1pm. A collection will be made for the British Heart Foundation.