Sheffield-born nightclub boss Peter Stringfellow dies after cancer battle

The 77-year-old businessman, who had wanted to keep his illness private, died in the early hours of this morning, a spokesman said.

REVEALED: 129 South Yorkshire football hooligans BANNED from attending World Cup in RussiaKnown as the King of Clubs, he opened a string of venues across the world after starting his business empire in Sheffield in 1962 and gradually attracting a host of big name stars to his venues as his reputation grew.

Acts including The Beatles, The Kinks and Jimi Hendrix played at his clubs.

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His flagship London club, Stringfellows, opened in Covent Garden in 1980 and was a haunt of celebrities, international film stars, TV personalities, rock stars and models.

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He later went on to open clubs in New York, Miami, Beverly Hills in the United States as well as Paris.

Stringfellow's publicist Matt Glass said the flamboyant businessman had spent time in hospital.

He said: "It's very sad news. He passed away in the early hours of this morning. It was kept very private, he didn't want to tell. He wanted to keep it a secret."