HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a landlord of a popular city pub who has died with people saying "Worcester won't be the same without him".

The death of Alex Pope, the landlord of the Paul Pry in Worcester, was announced today on the pub’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

In an emotional post, the team at the Paul Pry paid tribute to Mr Pope, age 39, and said the pub would be closed until further notice.

It said: “It is with immense sadness and pain that we must announce the sudden passing of our son, brother, partner, friend and landlord, Alex James Pope.

“We are beyond devastated and broken, but we are comforted knowing how loved he is and how much support we have around us.

“We love you more than words can express and there will forever be a void in our hearts.

Worcester News: Mr Pope and his dog AlfieMr Pope and his dog Alfie (Image: Pope family)

“Please respect our privacy at this time. The pub will be closed until further notice, to anyone who is booked in with us, we will contact you in due course.

“Goodnight chef.”

Hundreds of people have already paid tribute to Mr Pope online.

Worcester News: Fun and laughter at the pub

One commenter said: “Worcester won’t be the same without Alex, he’ll be missed so much.”

Another said: “I am so very sorry to hear this. Alex was such a wonderful, wonderful human. Many happy memories. Sending so much love to those closest to him.”

Mr Pope and his family have run the Paul Pry since 2017 and bought the pub in 2022, declaring on a plaque it was now “officially our home”.

The 200-year-old pub, which is a Grade II listed building, has gone from strength to strength with Mr Pope at the helm.

Worcester News readers have hailed the Paul Pry as one of Worcester’s hidden gems and last summer it started serving street food in addition to its famous roasts.