A R Willis Catering Trailers Ltd.

05/06/2026

Getting a massive project like this Mercedes bus conversion right is all about the journey, and the evolution of this design was a brilliant collaborative process. We originally went through a few completely different exterior directions with the client,from leaving it with a clean bus aesthetic to cladding it out to match the look of their previous bus. Ideas were flowing back and forth until the client came to us with the concept of raw graffiti art. It was such a fun, creative idea that instantly brought out the natural character of the bus and guaranteed it would stand out even more.

While the artists transformed the exterior panels into the masterpiece you see, our engineering team faced some unique structural challenges up top. Incorporating a heavy-duty sign that combined a complex mix of traditional letter marquee lights, bright neons, and an actual working traffic light required some serious problem-solving to integrate seamlessly with the bus's roof structure. It took some precise fabrication and wiring adjustments, but we got there in the end without compromising on the sleekness or durability of the build.

This bus is going to be the absolute talk of any festival, weekend event, or public space it rolls into this summer. It is the ultimate proof of what happens when a client brings a bold vision to our workshop and we back it up with the technical engineering to make it a reality. We cannot wait to see this unit in full action out on the road.

If you have a unique vision for a van, truck, or bus conversion and want a team that can overcome the structural challenges to build it right, let’s get to work.

Give us a call on 01763 852000 to discuss your custom layout and get your project booked into the workshop line.

04/06/2026

Posts like this are exactly why we love what we do. Seeing a trailer leave our workshop is one thing, but watching businesses like Yes Chef take it out into the real world and build something successful is what it's all about.

Congratulations on an incredible first year, and thank you for trusting A.R. Willis to be part of the journey. Here's to Year Two! 🍔🎉

It’s been a whole year since we picked up our brand new trailer, and what a year it’s been! 🎉

Look how the new one towers over the old unit, I often wonder how we managed the larger events with so little space 🤣🤣
In the last 12 months we’ve attended markets, festivals, private events, music festivals, dog shows, weddings, pop-ups and everything in between. We’ve met hundreds of customers, made new friends, worked some very long days, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

There have been early mornings, late nights, so many challenges along the way and plenty of hard work, but seeing the business continue to grow makes every minute worthwhile.

I’d like to express a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us, booked us, recommended us, shared our posts, and most importantly, bought food from us. Without you, none of this would be possible.

Here’s to another year of burgers, loaded fries, breakfast wraps, events, and hopefully even bigger things ahead! 🚚🍔

Thank you for being part of the yes chef journey 👨‍🍳

04/06/2026

Not every food truck is built to blend in.

The Toastie Bus was designed to turn heads before a single sandwich leaves the grill.

Custom artwork. Bespoke fit-out. Professional kitchen. One seriously memorable street food setup.

What do you think of this one?

01/06/2026

From Just a Bus to the Ultimate Crowd-Pleaser: The Toastie Bus is Ready for the Road

If you want to completely dominate the food festival circuit, you don't just need great food, you need a presence that stops people dead in their tracks from across the field. That is exactly what this massive Mercedes bus conversion delivers. We took this vehicle from a simple yellow bus, and engineered it into a high-output mobile kitchen dedicated to serving up the ultimate grilled cheeses.

Every single inch of this build has been optimized for festival volume and serious visual impact. The exterior features incredible, vibrant graffiti art dripping with character, a massive custom "Toastie Bus" light setup mounted to the roof, and even a built-in traffic light. To maximize serving efficiency during peak rushes, our client gets to enjoy dual heavy-duty serving hatches with gas-strut openings, alongside an external slide-out grill station, allowing the chefs to keep orders flowing.

Step inside, and you will see the space is fully ready for its final equipment installs, the double griddles are perfect for high-volume toasting, and expansive prep counters. The workflow is mapped out perfectly so a full crew can pump out hundreds of gooey, perfect toasties an hour without getting in each other's way.

This build is just a sample of what we can do with a bespoke van, truck, or bus conversion. If you are ready to stop dreaming about expanding your food business and start building an asset that brings the crowds and seamless operation, let’s make it happen.

Call us on 01763 852000 to discuss your layout and get booked in.

01/06/2026

USED TRAILER FOR SALE: (2017) — £22,950 (No VAT)

A fantastic opportunity to buy a very clean, ready-to-trade AR Willis catering trailer — ideal for getting set up quickly for festival and events season.

Size: 18ft tandem axle trailer
Style: Tram-style build
Overall length: 21ft (including front & rear storage compartments)

Fit-out & equipment included
- Stainless steel worktops
- Grill
- Hob
- Chip fryer
- Potato baker
- Sink
- Fridges

All accessories included

LOCATION: Wednesbury, WEST MIDLANDS, WS10 8RE
For further information, please contact 0121 659 7979.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/truck-details/202602180013687

31/05/2026

The UK street food market is growing at over 7% year on year, and new vendor entries have reached their highest level in more than a decade.

According to IBISWorld's 2025 industry report, that's good news for anyone already trading or planning to launch.

But it comes with a challenge.

More vendors on every pitch means customers have more choice. They're walking past multiple units before deciding where to spend their money. That decision often happens in seconds, and it starts with what your unit looks like, how it's laid out, and whether your service flow can handle busy trading periods.

A generic, off-the-shelf trailer may get you started, but it isn't designed around your menu, your brand, or the way you work. That can lead to compromises in workflow, customer experience, and operational efficiency.

For over 40 years, we've been building custom catering trailers for mobile food businesses across the UK. One thing we've seen time and time again is that traders who invest in a unit designed specifically around their operation often create a stronger customer experience, improve service efficiency, and build a more recognizable brand presence.

In a competitive market, your trailer is more than a kitchen. It's your shopfront, your workspace, and often the first impression customers have of your business.

Thinking about launching or upgrading your mobile food business? Start with the unit itself. A trailer designed around your menu, workflow, and brand can make a real difference to how efficiently you trade and how customers perceive your business. If you'd like to discuss your ideas, we're always happy to have a conversation.

29/05/2026

Nearly ready for its new home...

Just a little sneak peek of a build that's almost out the door.

We'll be sharing more photos and details next week, so keep an eye on the page.

Watch this space. 👀

29/05/2026

A full lorry build completed and handed over, ready to hit the road and start trading.

From the fabrication stage through to the final details, builds like this take a huge amount of work behind the scenes to get right. Layout, workflow, equipment positioning, power requirements, serving setup… every part is built around how the business will actually operate day-to-day.

Always a good feeling seeing another unit leave the workshop knowing it’s about to become someone’s business, livelihood and brand out on the road.

We’ve got more exciting builds currently in production and we’re now booking around a 7 week lead time for new projects.

If you’re planning a new mobile food business or upgrading your current setup, feel free to get in touch.

24/05/2026

Well when you employ 2 graffiti artist to paint a bus , and this is just day2

22/05/2026

A little look at what’s been happening in the workshop recently 👀

Several builds are now getting close to completion and we should have a few units leaving us over the coming weeks

We’ll be sharing more as they head out, so keep an eye on the page for completed builds, walkthroughs and collection days.

We are currently booking around a 7 week lead time, so if you’re thinking about launching or upgrading your mobile catering business now is a great time to start planning.