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More on KentOnline
A bar owner has launched a laundrette in the style of a 1920s speakeasy club at his nightspot in Maidstone.
Ciaran O'Quigley is the man behind the freshest Kent venue for washing your dirty clothes on the grounds of Mu Mu, a bar in Maidstone.
But the professional actor and owner revealed he has been inundated with questions about rumours that alcoholic drinks will be served in a secret location.
Ciaran O'Quigley talks about the idea
Mr O'Quigley said: "I have always been looking for a launderette with a difference.
"The launderettes I have seen are very boring. Nobody talks to each other and they are plain and ordinary.
"I thought we needed to do a spectacular one. I wanted to design my own washing machines, better than that I wanted to get interactive ones.
"I wanted washing machines to talk to people."
Light Creative, the company behind digital sequences for the Baftas and XFactor, helped Mu Mu with its audiovisual experience in the launderette.
As we asked the questions about his new laundromat, we heard music from behind closed doors and probed a little deeper.
Two washing machines adorn the left-hand side wall of the bar area with a mysterious keypad in the top corner.
Ciaran O'Quigley is "fed up" with being asked if the laundry room sells cocktails
The secrecy piqued our interest but Mr O'Quigley has taken an unusual approach to promotion and has decided to remain very tight-lipped over whether any drinks will be served there.
He said: "I have continuously been asked if I have Marion Bake in from the Gibson bar in London to design spectacular alcoholic beverages and cocktails and 18th century punch all in a luxurious setting.
"I find that offensive that they would ask and I totally deny it."
Mr O'Quigley's daughter has even received phone calls from speculative customers looking for a prohibition bar and her approach is to tell people she does not know what they are talking about.
As the family gear up for their first Very Important Pre-Wash next Wednesday, Mr O'Quigley did reveal visitors can look forward to alcohol-flavoured popcorn during each one-and-a-half hour spin and dry.
He said: "The reason we want to call it a speakeasy launderette is because of the way we designed it. We wanted the washing machines to be interactive.
"If people don't have any dirty laundry then we can provide it to them for if they want to have a chat.
"In the launderette people are provided with the most amazing popcorn which is marinated in rum or even mojito flavour."
Next Thursday sees the official opening to the public of Mu Mu's launderette and bookings are available at www.mumuexperience.com/LR
Opening hours are from 5pm until midnight on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Saturday the launderette is open from 12pm to midnight.
It is then available on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday for private hire.
For more information visit www.mumuexperience.com
