Crowdfund set up in memory of head chef who died at Cornwall beach bar

Tributes have been paid to the head chef of a Cornish beach bar who died suddenly last weekend.

Matt Halford, 38, was found collapsed at the Watering Hole bar on Perranporth Beach shortly after 9am on 18 March. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

A JustGiving page has been set up by Halford's son Jaden Cole to raise money to complete a house renovation that he had been working on before his death.

Cole wrote that Halford had "worked so hard" on the project and still had "massive plans" for the house.

The family hope to use the funds from the page, which has so far raised more than double its £3,000 target, to complete the renovation.

"I cannot fathom the outpouring of love our family has received and this shows how much my dad meant to so many people and how many lives he touched," Cole wrote on the crowdfund page.

The Watering Hole posted a tribute to Halford on social media and described him as the "MVP" of the bar and a "legendary" character.

The bar wrote: "Matt had worked at the Watering Hole all of his life, with his brothers Lee and Jason and three sons who have been there all of their life.

"He was not just a huge part of the Watering Hole, he was the Watering Hole, the life and soul of everything that happened and would do anything for anyone.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of Matt's family and friends as we know a lot of people are going to be hurting. The Watering hole family will stick together as that's what he would want.

"We love you mate and can't quite believe what has happened. Perranporth has lost its best man & captain."

A Cornish flag on Perranporth Beach will fly at half-mast until after the funeral.

The family-run Watering Hole was founded in 1978 and claims to be the UK's only bar situated directly on the beach.

To view the crowdfund, click here.

Image: The Watering Hole / Facebook