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The owner of a town centre restaurant says he simply wanted to do his bit to help as he provided free food to emergency crews tackling a major fire at a nearby venue.
Mexican eatery Mexigo on Week Street, Maidstone, gave more than 50 free meals to firefighters and police officers who spent most of the day nearby after a blaze broke out at popular club Mu Mu at around 2.30am.
The act of kindness was praised by Great British Bake Off finalist Laura Adlington whose husband, Matt, works for Kent Police.
Owner of Mexigo in Maidstone, Omer Kivrak, says he was devastated for Mu Mu owner Ciaran O'Quigley and his family, and that he was keen to provide assistance in challenging circumstances on Wednesday.
He said: “At the end of the day, this isn’t about us.
“This is a tragedy and it is terrible what has happened. But we just wanted to help in any way we could and just give back.”
Crews on the scene were treated to chicken and vegetarian burritos.
Mr Kivrak, 36, said: “We were just being human at the end of the day. With everything that is going on, we just need to pull together.
“We need to be there for each other and the local services did an amazing job.”
No-one was injured in the blaze and an investigation will be launched into the cause of the fire.
Gravesend-born Mrs Adlington was a 2020 Great British Bake Off finalist but lost out to Peter Sawkins in the final.
She posted: “Big shout out to @mexigouk in Maidstone who, today, gave more than 50 free meals to police and firefighters who were stuck at the scene after a fire.
“My husband and his colleagues loved it - such a kind thing to do.”
Mu Mu has been owned by Mr O'Quigley for 29 years and it is made up of four distinct areas – FiFi's Brasserie, cocktail lounge the Laundry Room, cabaret club Mu Mu and Irish pub Nellie Gerkins.
The fire came less than a week before social distancing rules are to be scrapped in England, something those in the hospitality industry, particularly nightclubs, have long called for.
A fundraiser has now been set up for Mu Mu and has already raised more than £1,000.
Mr Kivrak, who grew up in Maidstone, believes the business will come back stronger.
He said: “The O’Quigleys have been our neighbours for more than 20 years as a business and we have known them for a long time.
“The devastation of the fire is so unwanted, especially days before the reopening of everything in the hospitality industry where we have been so affected by the pandemic.
“We just did what everyone would have done, really.
“I know the firefighters and police officers were working there all the time. Some of them were sitting down at points, and they just looked so tired.
“We just wanted to give the guys some food and do whatever we could to try and do something positive in such a devastating situation.
“The community just wanted to pull together and help these guys out. We’re a family-run business, they’re a family-run business and I just wanted to give something back really.
“I know they will reopen.
“Mu Mu has been a cornerstone in Maidstone for years and I just wanted to just give something back to the local authorities that were doing such a good job.”
At its height, 60 firefighters were on the scene, with an extensive cordon placed around the area.
Shocking drone images revealed the extensive damage caused to the roof.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr O'Quigley's daughter Sineal O’Quigley, on behalf of Mu Mu, said their devastation was “beyond words” after the fire.
She added: “As a family, we are attempting to digest this horrific tragedy and we ask all customers to bear with us – we have no offices, no computers, no equipment, no phone lines, no access to our venue at all - These have all been taken as a result of this atrocious fire.
“At present, our venue remains closed and we as a family attempt to digest this tragedy which has ripped through our lives and our business - while we are unable to access your emails at this time, we are already overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.
“We will be back. That much is certain.”
To donate to the fundraiser click here
