Bosses of a high street restaurant and bar say they are “deeply heartbroken” after a blaze broke out in the early hours.
Eight fire engines, a height vehicle and a bulk water carrier were sent to The Hengist in Aylesford just after midnight.
Smoke seen coming from the Hengist in the early hours of this morning. Picture: Phil Wheatley
The high street was cordoned off outside the restaurant while the emergency services, including police, attended the incident.
Firefighters battled the flames using hose reel jets and main jets, and left the scene at 4.20am today (March 29).
Phil Wheatley was driving over the bridge in Aylesford on his way from work when he saw the village was filled with “heavy black smoke”.
He said: “Something did not feel right, so I turned around and went to the back car park adjacent to the rear properties on Aylesford High Street.
“I walked towards The Hengist and instantly could see it was alight.
Firefighters and police reported to the scene to help tackle the blaze. Picture: Phil Wheatley
“I called 999 at 12.03am and by 12.05am flames were seen coming from the rear upper bar above the kitchen area.”
Nearby resident Ewelina Frackiewicz, who witnessed part of the incident, said: “It was a very unsettling incident for all of us nearby, and our thoughts are with everyone affected.
“Thankfully, the emergency services arrived swiftly and dealt with the situation calmly and professionally.
“We are all with owners, employees and their families. It is an amazing place, the heart of Aylesford village, hopefully it will be back soon.”
Pictures from the scene show huge plumes of black smoke billowing from the restaurant and bar.
The cause of the fire is not yet known
It is understood that all the staff had left the premises by 11.35pm yesterday (March 28), and no injuries have been reported.
The cause is not yet known, and the business has had to temporarily close as the building cannot be used.
The high street was closed in both directions from Station Road to Mount Pleasant, but reopened yesterday morning.
In a statement published online, the owner of The Hengist, Kieron Khory-Davinson, said he was alerted to the incident by his alarm company as an alarm had been triggered.
He checked the CCTV and could see smoke in the reception area of the cocktail bar.
Fire crews pictured outside the restaurant. Picture: Ewelina Frackiewicz
He added: “The emergency services responded extremely quickly, and we are very grateful to the fire service and police for acting so fast to bring the situation under control.
“At this stage, we cannot confirm full details, but due to how quickly the fire developed, it is suspected that it may have been caused either deliberately or by faulty equipment.
“The fire appears to have originated in our ice room/storage area. A full investigation is now underway, and CCTV will be reviewed as soon as we are able to access the building.
“Most importantly, all staff, customers, and our family are safe.”
Kieron continued: “We are, of course, deeply heartbroken that our family restaurant has experienced such an awful incident.
Owner Kieron Khory-Davinson said he is “deeply heartbroken”
“Thank you for your understanding, support, and kind messages – it truly means everything to us right now.
“Thank you to our team, who, once they found out there was a fire, all rushed back to help. We adore all our team and are glad that all are safe.
“Stay with us, as your support will be needed and appreciated.”
Kieron took over the 16th-century property in April 2024 after it had closed down at the end of 2023 and reopened it following a £80,000 makeover that summer.
He wanted to breathe new life into the building and fully refurbished the premises with quirky decor while keeping the historical features.
It underwent a major makeover in 2024
He also introduced a theatrical cocktail menu with drinks presented in glasses such as a red phone box and a hot air balloon.
Our In The Mix reviewer visited last year, describing it as the “most out-there cocktail bar” she had been to in Kent.
The Hengist has said it will contact customers who have bookings to reschedule.
Nearby pub, The Chequers Inn, was also previously gutted by a fire in May 2022, which led to the road outside being closed for several months to complete repair works.
A police spokesman said: “We were called at 12.17am on Sunday to a fire at a business in Aylesford High Street.
“Officers attended the scene and closed the road while fire crews extinguished the blaze.
“Nobody was injured and inquiries are underway into the cause of the fire.”