Tributes continue following funeral of Yellow Door co-founder Simon Dougan MBE

The funeral of acclaimed chef and hospitality entrepreneur Simon Dougan MBE has taken place, as tributes continue to pour in from across Northern Ireland’s food and hospitality industry.

Mr Dougan, co-founder and proprietor of catering company Yellow Door, died peacefully aged 54 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He lived near Bleary, Co Armagh, and was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the region’s modern food scene.

In a statement issued following his death, the Yellow Door team described him as “a chef like no other”, praising his warmth, humour and passion for honest, flavoursome food. They said his legacy would live on through the team he built and the values he instilled, which championed local produce and Northern Ireland’s food heritage. His contribution to the industry was recognised with an honorary MBE in 2017.

TV personality and food writer Paula McIntyre paid tribute to Mr Dougan as a close friend and an exceptional figure in Irish hospitality, describing him as generous, kind and endlessly supportive, with a deep commitment to people as well as food.

Stephen Moutray, Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, said Mr Dougan played a transformative role in shaping the council’s Food Heartland initiative, helping to elevate the area’s reputation as a centre of excellence for food and hospitality.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Yellow Door grew from a fine dining restaurant in Gilford into one of Ireland’s leading event and wedding catering businesses, delivering services for high-profile occasions including functions at Hillsborough Castle.

A family notice described Mr Dougan as a devoted husband and a much-loved member of his family, asking that he be remembered “with smiles not tears”.