The owners of the Chinese restaurant which made Golda ‘Goldie’ Bechal’s favourite £3.70 pickled leek and beansprout dish have been allowed to keep almost £10million that the wealthy widow bequeathed to them.

The High Court today upheld Mrs Bechal’s will, in which she left the bulk of her fortune to Kim Sing and Bee Man, the owners of the Lian Chinese restaurant in Witham, Essex, where she regularly dined.

Mrs Bechal’s relatives had appealed to the High Court to overturn the will, claiming it was made when the property magnate was of unsound mind.

The court rejected the challenge by her five nephews and nieces - Sandra Blackman, Barbara Green, Laurence Lebor, Louise Barnard and Mervyn Lebor - who claimed they were entitled to inherit her estate.

Judge Sir Donald Rattee ruled that despite Mrs Bechal’s fading memory, she “had testamentary capacity” and that her will, executed in August 1994, was valid.

Mrs Bechal, who died a widow in January 2004, aged 89, also left money to various Jewish charities and £10,000 for a commemorative window at Marble Arch Synagogue.

Penelope Reed, counsel for Mr and Mrs Man told the court last week that Mrs Bechal had a “long-standing and very close, affectionate and loving relationship” with the restaurant owners.

The couple, who were in court to hear the decision along with Mrs Bechal’s nieces Sandra and Louise, had been friends of the multi-millionaire and her late husband Simon for many years.

After the decision Mrs Man said of her late friend: “She was a very kind lady to us, generous and warm. We appreciate what she has done for us. We were both very fond of her and my relationship with her was like a mother and daughter.”

Mr Man, asked how the result would affect them, said: “It will make no difference. Life goes on as normal.”

The judge accepted their evidence that Mrs Bechal, sad and lonely after the death of her husband and the death of her son Peter at the age of 28, had become almost part of the Man family.

They went on holidays with her to Cannes and Jerusalem and there were regular get-togethers at their restaurant and at her flat in Mayfair, central London. Mr Man visited Mrs Bechal whenever he was in London to buy restaurant supplies.

Mr Man told the court last week that Mrs Bechal, who he had met when he was 13, had “always liked her pickled leeks and beansprouts”. “She always had her own way of doing things,” he said. “I just respected what she did.”

There was evidence to show that Mrs Bechal’s relationship with her family had deteriorated and that she did not want them interfering in her affairs.

Mr Man, who is in his early 50s, also said that Ms Bechal had told him that her family were only after her money and had described them to him as a “bunch of hooligans”.

The judge accepted Mr and Mrs Man played no part when Mrs Bechal filled in a will form, supplied by Barclays Bank, or when the will was drawn up by the bank and executed.

The nephews and nieces who challenged the will were ordered by Mr Justice Rattie to pay the Mans’ costs of £450,000.

In a statement issued through their solicitors, the family said they were “very disappointed”.

“We are now considering our positions and taking legal advice about whether we wish to seek leave to appeal against this decision.”

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