The Creel Seafood Bar in Fionnphort on Mull has burned down, sparking an immediate community effort to rebuild it.
Fire fighters raced to the small seafood bar on Fionnphort’s pier yesterday as flames engulfed the building. Thankfully nobody was inside at the time as the business is now closed for the season.
Unfortunately the premises was completely destroyed, with the damage so severe that the fire service remains unable to pinpoint the origin of the fire, although owner Siobhan Cameron said she suspects the cause to be an electrical surge.
The small wooden shack employed six locals and won an award for the best seafood establishment in Scotland at the The Food Awards in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Its esteemed reputation and friendly staff cemented its place as a local favourite, with the community reacting with a mix of shock and sadness to yesterday’s events.
West Coast Today understands that the level of damage means the insurance will not cover the full cost of a rebuild.
A friend of the business, Alison Mailey, has set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to plug the cash gap, with a goal of raising £1,000. Overnight, it had already surpassed £6,950 and the rising total shows no signs of slowing down.
Siobhan, a single mum who has run the business for nine years, said: "I’m still in shock and so overwhelmed at the kindness I’ve received from everyone.
"They seem to think there was some sort of electrical surge from a power cut that has caused the fire. It’s just totally devastating."
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 7.40am on Wednesday, November 27 to reports of a hut on fire at Fionnphort Pier on the Isle of Mull.
“Operations Control mobilised two fire appliances and firefighters extinguished a fire affecting a hut.
"There were no reported casualties and crews left after ensuring the area was made safe.”
If you want to see The Creel rebuilt, you can donate to the GoFundMe campaign by clicking here.
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