Oliver Hughes, founder of The Porterhouse pub chain, dies aged 55
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Oliver Hughes, founder of The Porterhouse pub chain, dies aged 55

THE owner of a popular British and Irish pub chain has sadly passed away.

The Porterhouse co-founder Oliver Hughes died in Ireland on Saturday evening, aged 55.

It has been reported that Mr Hughes had been treated for a heart condition in recent weeks and had been resting at his Dublin home at the time of his death.

It is believed he died of a suspected heart attack.

A former barrister, Oliver Hughes and his cousin Liam La Hart founded the Porterhouse Group in 1989, opening their first pub in Bray, Co. Wicklow.

From there, they were among the first to open microbreweries in London, New York and Dublin as well as popular Dublin nightclub Lillie's Bordello.

Their London bar is located in Covent Garden.

Popular with Irish patrons, it stayed true to its Irish roots and serves handcrafted Irish beer brewed in Dublin specifically for the Porterhouse.

Mr Hughes and Mr La Hart also opened a distillery in Dingle, Co. Kerry in 2014 producing whiskey, gin and vodka.

Their first malt was bottled earlier this year.

The Porterhouse Group employs over 500 people across its network.

Tributes have been pouring in over social media for the well-known publican since his death at the weekend.

A spokesperson for The Porterhouse Group is expected to make a statement later this afternoon.

Mr Hughes is survived by his wife and two children.

Here are some of the tributes to Oliver Hughes on Twitter: