Castle Rock Brewery's owner has paid tribute to his close friend and well-known Beeston pub landlord after he died from cancer.
Neil Kelso, died aged 62 on Wednesday, June 26, at around 10.30am after battling cancer.
He was the landlord of The Victoria pub and hotel in Dovecote Lane, Beeston, for around 20 years.
Born in Belfast, Neil first met the founder of Castle Rock Brewery, Chris Holmes, in the 1980s while drinking at the first pub Mr Holmes bought, The Old King's Arms in Newark.
He then went on to become a director at the brewery and landlord of the Victoria after also managing The Lincolnshire Poacher, in Mansfield Road.
Mr Holmes, majority shareholder in Castle Rock Brewery, said: "He made a massive success of the Victoria.
"He was very hard working, very intelligent, bright, funny and very much a perfectionist. He always worked hard and was always involved in the business.
"It is just terrible news. I first knew him as a customer then he went on to become a company director at Castle Rock and a very close personal friend.
"We went on family holidays together. He was interested in many things. He was a great sportsman and was very interested in music. He was a big Van Morrison fan, and a very good hockey player and footballer.
"He liked the fun things in life.
"He was a great people person. Everyone knew who he was. The pub is very much successful because of the work he put into it."
Neil also dedicated time to fundraising for charity and was pivotal in raising money for Nottingham Trent University's John van Geest Cancer Research Centre.
The Victoria is celebrating its 25th anniversary party of Neil being at the pub on Sunday, June 30 - which he had been helping to organise from his bed.
All patrons are welcome to go along and celebrate the occasion of one of Beeston's best-known pubs.
"It will be a celebration of his life," said Mr Holmes. "I'm sure it will be a packed house with people there to raise a glass to him."
