Eats
Altrincham restaurant pays touching tribute to beloved regular after tragic passing
Losing not just customers but treasured community figures like this is a tough side of the hospitality industry that is often overlooked. RIP.
Danny Jones -
20th February 2025 
Altrincham restaurant Damò has paid a truly touching but heartbreaking tribute to one of their dearest customers, Haroon Choudry, after learning of his tragic passing last week.
The Italian eatery is a highly-rated spot that is adored among the Alty community and it seems there’s just as much affection being poured out following the recent death of one of their regulars.
Announcing the news on social media, Damò said that they recently learned of the news that their familiar and popular local face, not to mention beyond loyal patron Haroon had sadly passed away following a sudden heart attack.
He was just 56. This really is a tear-jerker but it’s nevertheless beautiful to read.
Entitling the post simply, ‘GOODBYE H’, the emotional farewell message begins, “Never in my life did I think I’d be writing this…
After explaining that someone walked into the restaurant on Saturday morning to inform them of the awful news, co-owner Amro Faisal went on to add: “I didn’t understand. How? He was just here the day before, and the day before that. He was always here.”
Confessing that it made a busy weekend service more difficult, he revealed how a call with his wife was particularly moving as she simply repeated, “He loved you so much, guys! He loved you so much!” – a moment they have described as unforgettable as it was moving.
As they detailed at length, ‘H’ would visit Damò at least three to four times a week, enjoying “his usual single espresso with a glass of water—he didn’t even have to ask; it just came with my coffee.”
“We’d sit, chat, laugh… sometimes I’d forget I was even working”, Amro continued. “He was passionate about cars, especially vintage cars.
“Some days, we’d just sit at the bar table, watching outside on Ashley Road, talking about cars and engines. He could go on for hours, completely in his element, sharing stories and knowledge.”
Equally beloved by friends, family and other regulars, he often ate with his wife and two daughters – of which he was always “so proud” – or best mates Bob and Darren, and was constantly singing the restaurant’s praises to everyone he knew. Put simply, they summed him up as a “lovely person.”
The restaurant opened back in the summer of 2023 and has quickly grown a loyal following in the Trafford market town, but none more so than Haroon. Fast forward to February 2025 and members of the Damò team sadly found themselves at the well-respected local GP’s funeral. Just awful.
Still struggling to find the words, the restaurant said: “And now he’s gone. Just like that […] Still in shock. Still heartbroken. He wasn’t just a customer, not even just a regular—he was our Friend. And he left too soon. We had so many things still to do, so many more coffees to share.
The lasting image is one of him last Wednesday evening, 13 February, eating their Tagliatelle Duck Ragu dish. They signed off the post the only way they knew how, adding, “Rest easy, Haroon. You’ll be missed more than words can say.
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You only have to look in the comments beneath any of their social posts to see how much he meant to others either, with one person writing: “Like many others, I was very fortunate to know H for more than 20 years and make many great ‘car’ memories with him.
“Softly spoken, with a dry wit, a devoted and very proud husband, Dad, son and great friend, he’ll be deeply missed by so many.”
Our thoughts go out to Haroon’s friends, family and everyone’s lives he touched. Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — DAMO Altrincham (via Instagram)/Facebook
