APPEAL SET UP TO HELP STRICKEN FORMER CHESTER BAR OWNER IN FIGHT FOR LIFE

The partner and friends of a popular former Chester bar owner, now facing mounting bills as he fights for his life in a Moroccan hospital, have launched an urgent fundraising appeal to help pay for his ongoing medical care and to get him home after he was recently struck down by a life-threatening stroke.

Kate O'Neil and her partner James Nicolian who ran the popular Exotic Booze Club cocktail bar in the old Chester Market had only recently relocated to Morocco when James, 48 suffered a massive stroke. 

With the self-employed couple's insurance only covering a small proportion of the daily costs of James' round the clock medical treatment and care in a Moroccan hospital, friends of the couple have launched a Go Fund Me page to help the stricken mixologist.

James, fondly known as 'Big J' was a well known figure in Chester's hospitality scene for several years with his larger-than-life character and loud Hawaiian shirts. Previously the Landlord of the Egerton Arms in Little Budworth, James, whose other enterprises in Chester included The Sandy Box (now Love Shack), set up and ran the quirky Exotic Booze Club in Chester Market with Kate and organised the highly popular Chester Cocktail Week with many of Chester's bars staging special cocktail themed events. The couple also ran bars at large scale events in the UK including the National Television Awards before relocating to Morocco. 

With James remaining in a critical condition in hospital and facing months if not years of intensive treatment, rehab and round-the-clock care, Kate is now appealing for help in raising funds to help pay for his ongoing medical treatment in hospital as the cost of his care continues to rise day on day.

Kate has been overwhelmed by the support she and James have received so far from the local community in Morocco, from their friends and on social media but with a long road ahead and hospital bills mounting, close friend Matthew Lisle has set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for James' ongoing medical treatment.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so by clicking the link here: 

https://gofund.me/fc6f5aae2

Speaking about James' plight Kate said:

"James was a popular, well-known and well-loved character in Chester and so if you ever worked with him, visited our bar, had a great night out with him and are able to help, even £1 is really appreciated in the fight to continue to fund his ongoing medical care and ultimately bring him home. James is a fighter but I'm under no illusions as to how serious his condition is right now. We face a long uphill battle and he will need care 24/7 for the foreseeable future. It's another illustration of just how precious life is and how things can change in a heartbeat."

Kate added:

"James must stay in hospital for the foreseeable and in Morocco for at least 6 weeks before he will be allowed to travel on a medical flight back to the UK. Even then, we don't know if that will be possible due to the massive blood clot to his brain. His speech, sight and mobility have been severely affected and he is barely able to move. Our friends in both Morocco and the UK have been amazing. Cash is king in Morocco and we have to pay for his care daily, scan by scan or it doesn't happen. The hospital are holding our passports and they literally stand over you whilst you use your credit card to pay for each and every bit of treatment. We really don't know what the future holds at the moment and are just taking it day by day, hour by hour."

Pictured - James Nicolian and his partner Kate O'Neil during happier times.