A family devastated by the loss of a much-loved son and brother with a 'loving heart' who committed suicide are to open a new restaurant named in his memory.
Ryan Hunt was just 21 years old when he took his own life in November last year. He had been suffering with depression.
Before his death he suggested that his family - who already own the London Tavern pub in Queens Square, Attleborough - take over the old Bear public house nearby.
The site of in the centre of the town has been empty for 15 months and Ryan - known as Ry to his family - felt the Taylors could make it a success,
In what Ryan's mother Samantha Taylor described as an 'emotional moment of madness', the family have now bought the venue - and following extensive refurbishment are due to reopen it as Ry's Bar and Grill next month.
'We had been asked by the previous landlord of The Bear to go into business with them a few years ago and Ryan always said we should have done it,' said Mrs Taylor. 'He liked The Bear and thought it had potential so when it came up for auction, my mum as an emotional off-the-cuff comment said about buying it for those reasons and things went from there.'
Mrs Taylor, who also serves as a town councillor in Attleborough, said that although Ryan 'wasn't always the best behaved boy', he had a 'loving heart'.
She added: 'During my term as mayor he helped bury the town's jubilee time capsule. He loved getting suited and booted, so attended some functions with me.
'He had a good heart. One lady said how he helped her across the road with her shopping. He was a polite young man who would help anyone that asked for it.
'His little brother and sisters meant the world to him. He would do anything for them.
'He also loved coming up with crazy recipes - he was famous at home for his cheese, chilli and anything else he could cram into a toasted sandwich.'
Mrs Taylor said Ryan had also spoken of doing an NVQ in cooking and that the family's take-over of the restaurant would have been of great interest to him.
Although Ryan's 'crazy recipes' for toasted sandwiches may not be on the menu, Ry's Bar and Grill will serve quality steaks and traditional food, as well as offer cream teas from its coffee lounge.
It will also serve real ale from the Taylor family's own brewery and is due to open to customers on May 2 after a launch night the previous evening.
Mrs Taylor said the family had several ideas for the name but that Ry's Bar and Grill 'was the only name his little sister Lacey liked'.
She added that: 'Nearly everyone that knew Ryan has said the same - he would have loved it, he would have got a kick out of having his name up in lights out there for everyone to see.
'I think he'd be excited and pleased for the family.'
Mrs Taylor said people in Attleborough had been supportive of the new venture. 'We've had an amazing amount of positive comments from many different members of the community and hopefully we can continue to support the town,' she said.
Her father John Taylor said: 'I am delighted to have been able to purchase one of Attleborough's landmarks and even more pleased that we will be able to enhance it with a badly needed quality restaurant for the town.'
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