Farewell to Mr Li - the man who brought Chinese restaurants to Bay
Pioneering Torquay restaurant owner dies aged 89
A well-known and highly respected businessman who opened Torquay’s first ever Chinese restaurant has died.
Restaurateur Ping Shang Li passed away in Torquay at the age of 89.
From very humble beginnings living on the China-Hong Kong border, Mr Li, as he was widely known, came to the UK aged 18 and settled in the West Midlands, working as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant.
Ping Shang was ambitious and entrepreneurial and with his new bride, Lai Har, he came to Torquay in 1960 to open the first ever Chinese restaurant in the town in Market Street.
Always looking for the next opportunity, he proceeded to open a series of restaurants and take-aways across Torbay including the Palace, on Palace Avenue, Paignton in 1962; Lai Che in Victoria Parade, Torquay in 1964, the Lai Kin in Paignton in 1968, The Siew May in the 1970s and Wok’s Cook-In in 1983.
Ping Shang was an early advocate and pioneer of the ‘open kitchen’ approach to food preparation and cooking; and the Siew May was one of the first establishments in the south-west designed specifically for this purpose.
His proudest achievement came in 1985, when he and Lai Har bought the Exbury Hotel in Torquay’s Old Torwood Road and transformed it into the Yum Sing Cantonese Restaurant.
‘Mr and Mrs Li’ were at the heart of the restaurant’s operations for over 15 years and were a formidable partnership, always impeccably dressed and demanding high standards.
Under their ownership the Yum Sing established an excellent reputation for its food and service.
Lai Har’s untimely passing in 2001 prompted Ping Shang to retire from the business and spend more of his time in Hong Kong and China.
He built a new life there, only returning to Torquay permanently due to a combination of failing health and the global pandemic.
Through the years, he kept in close touch with the Yum Sing and was immensely proud of the way his son, Victor, daughter-in-law Sue and granddaughter Elle have built on his legacy.
The Yum Sing continues to thrive today, 41 years after it first opened its doors.
Outside of his business activities, Ping Shang was an active member of the Devon & Cornwall Chinese association and served a term as its chairman displaying all the courage, diplomacy and integrity the role required.
He was a keen sportsman in his youth and in his later years enjoyed visiting Plainmoor to watch Torquay United.
Ping Shang Li is survived by his son Victor, daughter Jacqui, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Members of the family gathered at the Warberries Nursing Home on Christmas Day for what was to be their last photograph together.
Ping Shang was pictured surrounded by four generations of his family including son-in-law Alex Rowe, daughter Jacqui, son Victor, grandchildren Yasmin, Elle, Jordan, Justin and James, daughter-in-law Natalie and great grandchildren Lily and Jonty.