Major British operator Eddie Fairless, who made his name with United Leisure, died suddenly in a London hotel on Thursday of last week.
Fairless, who was 66, was a life-long operator who took part in a number of high-profile business ventures. United Leisure was a major operator in which Fairless partnered Mike Pemberton.
Until his death, the Fairless/Pemberton partnership ran the well-known Crystal Rooms in London’s Leicester Square. Fairless also had tenpin bowling interests in Spain. He lived in Spain but also had a home in Barbados.
Eddie Fairless was recognised in the UK industry as a straightforward character, an honest operator or as one industry observer said: "With Eddie, what you saw was what you got - and he was a very decent man."
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 30, at 11am at South Tyneside Crematorium, John Reid Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 9DT, and afterwards at the Little Haven Hotel, South Shields. Eddie Fairless leaves a wife, Valerie, son Edward and daughter Nicola.
