Grilling Innovation: Friends Take the Road Less Traveled—Literally

In a brilliant display of entrepreneurial spirit and questionable judgment, three friends have transformed a fire engine into a burger van. Yes, you heard that right: a burger van in a fire engine. Because nothing says “gourmet” quite like purchasing your meal from a vehicle designed to extinguish flames.

Meet Niall Seymour, 35, Lee Syndercombe, 37, and Anne-Lise Costerg, 34. After spending a decade in existential crisis known as “adulting,” they embarked on a noble quest—turning a decrepit fire truck into an impressive vessel of flame-grilled delights. What could possibly go wrong? They only spent 20 months and a staggering £40,000 on conversions, burning money almost as efficiently as they grill their burgers.

The brainwave came to them while munching on subpar festival food—because nothing says, “I want to start a business” like regretting eating a rubbery hotdog under a tent. The trio originally found their fire engine on Facebook Marketplace in a transaction more questionable than swiping right on a dating app. For the low, low price of £6,000, they acquired this glorious piece of history, where hoses once fought fires and now probably serve chili cheese fries.

Eager to launch their culinary venture, they finally started trading in May of this year. And guess what? It’s going well! This is probably because customers are both intrigued by the novelty of a burger van disguised as a vintage fire truck and terrified of being dragged off to a fire academy if they dare complain. Nothing sells burgers quite like the fear of fire drills!

Their menu boasts of expertly grilled burgers with “flame-kissed” flavor—because saying it’s flame-grilled sounds a lot fancier than admitting it was made in a former emergency response vehicle. Word has it that the ketchup is stored in the hoses, adding a unique touch of authenticity to the experience. Who needs gourmet condiments when you have a hose that once served a higher purpose?

In a world where culinary creativity is a fast track to viral fame, this trio has carved their niche, one burger at a time. Aside from filling stomachs, they’ve also managed to provide a good laugh and perhaps a rush of adrenaline—what’s more exciting than your burger arriving with a side of nostalgia for childhood fire drills?

So, if you’re in the mood for burgers that double as a conversation starter—complete with sirens that really shouldn’t go off during your lunch break—be sure to swing by and support these brave (and likely hungry) innovators. After all, nothing quite captures the essence of modern dining like a meal served from the very vehicle that once stood guard against disaster. Who knows? You might just come for the food and stay for the flames.