THE former landlord of the Old Spot Inn in Dursley died suddenly yesterday. 

Steve Herbert, who ran the Old Spot with his wife Belinda for 13 years, died at home yesterday shortly after complaining of illness, the Gazette understands. 

The community of Dursley and the surrounding area is now mourning the death of a local legend.  

While Steve was at the helm of Dursley's ever popular Old Spot, the establishment achieved the pinnacle of public house celebrity when it won CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 2007.

Under his control it also won multiple CAMRA awards on a county and regional level. 

Fellow member of the pub trade Andrew Starling, landlord of the Falcon Steakhouse in Wotton-under-Edge, said that Steve set a benchmark for other pubs in the area.

"Under Steve's watchful eye the Old Spot set a benchmark for excellence in how to run a successful local ale house in the area," said Andrew.  

"A fantastic guy with a passion for pleasing people, Steve will be sorely missed throughout the licensed trade.

"Our thoughts go to his family and friends."

When he left the pub in 2014 he told the Gazette, speaking about his time at the Old Spot: “This is going to sound cheesy but you can’t beat the customers here.

"I don’t think there’s another pub in the world with customers like this. I mean that."

It is far more than his role of landlord that people will remember him for; Steve has been described by those who knew him as a "people pleaser" and a "lovely man" who "always had a smile on his face". 

Wendy Thomas of Dursley said: "I am reeling from this news. Steve was the best pub landlord ever. I'm totally shocked and saddened."

Ken Eales said: "I am so shocked by this news. Steve will be sorely missed - a lovely man and a wonderful supporter of any community he was a part of.

"I will really miss Steve. My thoughts are with Steve's friends and family."

Shona Thornhill of Dursley said: "A genuine top bloke. Always had a smile on his face and the Old Spot was never the same without him."