The family of a Dundee publican were said to be ”in pieces” after he was found dead in the cellar of one of his west end pubs on Tuesday morning.
It is believed deliverymen discovered the body of Fraser McMillan, who was known as Fred, shortly before 10am after there was no answer at the Balgay Hill Bar at the corner of Blackness Road and Rosefield Street.
Mr McMillan (47), who was married with two children, was also mine host at the Queen Anne Bar in City Road.
Regulars at both bars were met with closed doors and notices saying that they were closed for the day due to ”unforeseen circumstances”.
Police were called to the bar and a spokesman for the force said there were no apparent suspicious circumstances.
Imran Kali, who works at Blackness News on Blackness Road, opposite the pub, said the deliverymen had arrived but could not raise anyone at the pub.
”It must have been about 10 o’clock,” he said. ”I heard that the deliverymen went into the pub and found him in the cellar. I think they had keys.”
A regular at the bar said Mr McMillan had only taken over the Balgay a few months ago, although he had owned the Queen Anne for longer.
Another regular called him a ”very nice man, always helpful and always with a smile on his face.”
They said: ”He was very outgoing and no one could have a bad word to say about him. No one has a clue what has happened and the family are in pieces.”
It is believed Mr McMillan and his wife Pam have been married for around 28 years and they have two daughters.
A Queen Anne regular said: ”I can’t believe it he was in the pub last night and was cheerful. He was even on the karaoke, somebody said.”
A police spokesman said: ”Tayside Police attended at an address in Rosefield Street following a report of the sudden death of a 47-year-old male.
”There are no apparent suspicious circumstances and inquiries into the full set of circumstances are ongoing. As with all sudden deaths a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”