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First look at FiFi's Brasserie in Mu Mu, Maidstone, which has reopened after a fire

12:00, 04 October 2021

updated: 14:32, 08 October 2021

A hospitality venue ravaged by fire has reached a major milestone.

A blaze broke out at Mu Mu in Maidstone in July, tearing through 110 Week Street.

Ciaran O'Quigley gives a tour of the restaurant at Mu Mu, which reopens today

The venue, owned by Ciaran O'Quigley for 29 years, is comprised of two buildings - 110 Week Street and 108.

108, which includes an Irish pub, cocktail bar and lounge reopened a week after the fire, but 110, which suffered severe damage to the roof and includes restaurant Fifi's Brasserie, a cabaret bar, nightclub and offices, has been closed until today.

Fifi's Brassierie reopens today, after a new £150,000 kitchen was installed, furniture had to be refurbished and a new oak floor was put in, all because of fire damage.

Luckily, the eye-catching art work and other pieces of decor, such as a unicorn named Ian, remain intact, meaning FiFi's looks as it did before the blaze.

After the fire, the cause of which is not known, Mr O'Quigley's daughter Sineal said the family's "devastation is beyond words", but promised they will be back.

Firefighters tackling the blaze at Mu Mu in Maidstone's Week Street from above Picture: Petra Kovacsova
Firefighters tackling the blaze at Mu Mu in Maidstone's Week Street from above Picture: Petra Kovacsova

Last week, ahead of the reopening, Mr O'Quigley said he remembered watching as the building went up in flames, and 30 years of hard work with it.

Mr O'Quigley said:"I went into a very dark place after it happened, as you would."

FiFi's Brasserie at Mu Mu, Maidstone, reopens today after a fire
FiFi's Brasserie at Mu Mu, Maidstone, reopens today after a fire
FiFi's Brasserie at Mu Mu, Maidstone, reopens today after a fire
FiFi's Brasserie at Mu Mu, Maidstone, reopens today after a fire

He added however, that working on getting FiFi's Brasserie open has "completely inspired" him.

"It was almost like starting all over again, but we are coming back bigger and better."

"We are spending £150,000 on a new kitchen, it's a costly exercise but we had to get it back and running really quickly."

Mr O'Quigley said everyone had been working "around the clock" get FiFi's open so soon.

"Most people said 'you haven't got a chance of opening until the middle of next year', and we said 'we are not having that.'"

With the reopening of FiFi's, bottomless brunch at Mu Mu can once again resume, as well as their Bitchy Bingo events.

Ciaran O'Quigley, Mu Mu owner, at FiFi's Brasserie, which has reopened after a fire at the venue
Ciaran O'Quigley, Mu Mu owner, at FiFi's Brasserie, which has reopened after a fire at the venue
FiFi's Brasserie at Mu Mu, Maidstone, reopens today after a fire
FiFi's Brasserie at Mu Mu, Maidstone, reopens today after a fire

Mr O'Quigley said he hopes the Cabaret nights will resume in three months, with the nightclub probably next year.

Speaking previously, when he announced his reopening plans, the business owner said: "People think we burned to the ground but we are quite lucky that it was just the roof and the iconic building is still intact.

The fire taking hold at Mu Mu in Maidstone Picture: Bethan Maisie Caffyn
The fire taking hold at Mu Mu in Maidstone Picture: Bethan Maisie Caffyn

"The top part of the building is where our store room was so that’s where we kept our alcohol so it probably made it look worse than it was.

"But even so it’s nice to have it back so quickly, there are a lot of local people that are spurring us on.

"We really feel like part of the community and we’re pleased to be able to give the building life again."

An investigation into the root of the blaze by the Kent Fire & Rescue Service found the cause was indeterminate.

The investigation has now concluded.

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