In August 2020, the Kozelsky Catering team, Mélanie and Fabian, discovered a 1962 London bus for sale in Fribourg, Switzerland. After visiting it, they fell in love and decided to purchase it in order to restore it and give it a second life. Even after driving more than 1.2 million kilometres as a mode of public transport in and around London, its condition remained excellent. Imported by a family from Fribourg in 1995, the bus had accompanied them in their daily life for over 20 years and been displayed in their garden when not in use, serving as a bar at family parties and even as a roof over the heads of their children when they decided to spend the night!
However, due to a lack of time, it was largely left unused until it crossed the path of the Kozelsky Catering team.
After deciding on their ideas for the future of the bus, Mélanie and Fabian began researching who could transform it exactly as they wished. After several meetings with Swiss partners, it turned out the best solution was to transport the bus to England and that’s where The Bus Business stepped in - we specialise in the renovation of old English buses so this was the perfect opportunity to display our talents.
The bus was then transported to England by a special convoy around the beginning of November 2021 to be renovated there.
Upon its arrival, the bus was completely dismantled. The mechanical part was rebuilt, the gearbox revised, the engine changed, new brakes were fitted, the chassis was sandblasted and that was all just for starters!
All the work was carried out to ensure the bus could run as long as possible. Once the mechanics were finished, the roof structure was modified, with the aim of reducing the height of the bus by 40cm to be able to homologate it according to Swiss laws. Custom-made hydraulic rams were then added to raise the roof and allow future customers to stand fully upright on the first floor.
The whole aluminium body was then straightened and in some places completely redone. We then had to carry out a number of additional jobs, including choosing the new colour of the bus, which materials we wanted to use inside, ordering furniture, designing and installing a custom-made professional bar for the ground floor and installing a generator to ensure the bus' independence. Everything was thought out and supervised from Switzerland but carried out in England.
After two years of hard work, the bus finally returned to Switzerland at the beginning of September 2022 to participate in its very first event and inauguration: the Foire du Valais 2022.
Once the bus is back in England, there will be two options for its commercial operation:
- Customers will be able to rent it via the catering company Kozelsky Catering and organise an aperitif for their company or a private wedding/birthday-style event. Kozelsky Catering will take care of moving the bus to the desired location and will provide a tailor-made offer for all food and drinks.
- The second option is to rent only the structure. This enables companies to rent the bus, customise it with their own colours and use it for promotional purposes. We have taken care to keep the bus as neutral as possible so that it can be accessible to everyone. We will take the time to analyse every request we receive to make sure the experience it gives our customers is exclusive and memorable.
Kozelsky Catering.
Kozelsky Catering is a young catering company based in Sion, Switzerland, that was founded in 2021. The team, composed of Mélanie and Fabian, will accompany you in the creation of tailor-made events according to your desires and budget. From a family meal at home to corporate dinners, we adapt to your needs. Thanks to their unique working tool, the 11-97.ch bus, you can give your family and friends or your best clients a totally exclusive experience. More information on their website www.kozelsky.ch or by email at welcome@kozelsky.ch.
The Bus Business.
Our team is driven to set the brands we work with apart from their competition and help them achieve excellence through the creative solutions we deliver. You can get in touch with The Bus Business via our contact page here