Hawarden cafe Spiros owner brought Greece to North Wales

Spiros Kavvadias, known to many for his colourful and friendly character as proprietor of The Gallery Coffee Shop in Hawarden, passed away on March 26, aged 60.

He leaves behind daughter Sandra, son-in-law Nikos, granddaughter Leah, and devoted partner Alison.

Originally from Corfu, in Greece, Spiros took on the café in 2009, his larger than life personality offering the perfect warm welcome front of house.

The couple took a gamble on Greek-themed nights about 10 years ago, and these became incredibly popular, still talked about years later.

Alison said: "He would dance with a glass on his head and a table in his mouth! Those were his party tricks.

"He was totally a frontman, a born entertainer. He brought a bit of Greece to North Wales.

"People would say it was like being on holiday when they came in the shop.

"He always said if you're going to do something, you've got to be the best it.

"He knew every Greek within a 10-mile radius but Spiros settled here, he considered this to be his home.

"He was The Gallery, loved the people, the community."

Greek flag floral tribute to Spiros Kavvadias, in the window of The Gallery, in Hawarden.

Although considered the life and soul of the party, Spiros was also known for his generosity and ability to connect with the children who visited the café.

His impact on the community he embraced was clear to see in the hundreds of messages left on The Gallery's Facebook page.

Many spoke of their happy memories of Spiros, some going back decades but Ren Moores summed it up: "He will be missed but remembered with a smile, dancing and laughing as he would of wanted."

The Manchester United fan, who loved to sing, had suffered from heart problems since 2008 but Alison said he always remained positive, and never moaned.

She said: "Someone came to me at the funeral and said - 'our lives are all richer for meeting him'.

"I will miss everything about him."

A packed funeral service was held at St Deiniol's Church in Hawarden on April 12.

Spiros had always said he didn't want anything to be miserable, and the recessional music at the end of the service was Zorba's dance, with everyone clapping as it was played.

Donations were collected to share between the British Heart Foundation and the Critical Care Unit at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.