What should we be doing with surviving Routemasters? Keep them in museums? Preserve and restore every feature and take them to rallies from time to time. Cut them up and use them as furniture in sweetshops? Or should they be used as working vehicles, earning their keep? In my case this means weddings and school proms. In some cases this means using the vehicle as a mobile catering unit. This bus earns its keep by visiting a local village every week-night and going to a local event at weekends, providing good quality fish and chips.

The owner has consulted with and bought components from contributors to this forum. After a good quality repaint he is currently arranging the the vinyls for the lettering. The catering equipments is brand new and everything is spotless. What do forum contributors think?

My bus number (if any): RMs 238, 471. 2213 & GS17

I don't think that there is anything wrong with what they have done with that particular Routemaster, aside from the fact that they're serving up deep fried food! It really is up to the owners what they do with their buses; after all, they are giving them a use - a life extension. Even if it is as a fish and chip shop, a bar or a playbus. They serve a purpose and Joe Public loves them.

What I don't like are the restored vehicles that adorn a modern owner's logo or fleet name. Is it a restored historical bus or a working fleet bus? Do they really need to promote their business that much as to spoil the appearance of a beautifully preserved vehicle?

That's just my opinion.

My bus number (if any): RT3316

I was against any alternative use other than to transport passengers, but having seen the ones used as bars at RM60 etc. and as there are plenty of original Routemasters still around it does help bring the icon into the lives of people who would otherwise miss out - ie. those that don't attend bus rallies etc. Many a bus has survived long enough to be restored back to original only because it has had an alternative use after a PSV ie. mobile polling station, left luggage office etc.
Didn't one of the heritage RM's spend some time as a fish and chip shop before returning to the capital (1776 ??)

My bus number (if any): RML2747

Scrapping some of the basket case buses to provide parts to keep the others going (dons tin hat and runs for cover).....

My bus number (if any): RML2532

I'm of the opinion that a Routemaster operated and maintained legally and responsibly deserves a chance to succeed in a post LT life irrespective of it being preserved as an authentic passenger carrying bus or as a novel, innovative business.

Whilst there are many of us who enjoy seeing a tidy Routemaster recalling the gold transfers / cream band or later white transfers / white band livery (or the green variants) because it fits comfortably with what we knew and liked, there are enough of these around to adequately cover the fleet variations over time. It would, of course, be nice to see every permutation of LT use recreated as part of the whole story and maybe one day a `Shop-Linker` or driver training RM will plug some of the few gaps relevant to the lengthy years of LT service.

I have some reservations regarding `corporate organisations` who are looking for a short term gimmick with little inclination to either ask advice of those who could help or to spend money on after-care once an initial conversion has been carried out. But we shouldn`t criticise or rubbish those individuals who have put a vast amount of time and money into a credible conversion away from passenger carrying use or, indeed, as passenger carrying Private Hire vehicles visually correct on the outside but with refinements inside - especially if they have sought and listened to responsible advice.

A Routemaster taken to a change of use but operated professionally to turn heads and attract a positive response from the public has got to be better than a preserved bus looking and operated questionably. Hasn`t it?

But isn`t it also reasonable to assume that an individual committing a vast amount of money to a Routemaster based business that needs to be out there most of the year to earn a return on the outlay, has a greater need of precious spare parts than a preservationist going to two rallies per month for half of the year? A point I know I`ve made before and one that probably doesn`t sit comfortably with some. Business versus hobby. Always going to be an emotive point.

I don't really care what people do with their buses as long as they are well maintained, are driven safely and properly,look presentable and are operated within the law.

A lot of folk are not aware that things like the STOP flag means what it says (to quote the other roy)and that it means there is a defect on the braking system. They are not aware that the accumulators have to be re-charged t intervals to make sure the braking system will work correctly. that to me is more important than the colouring of the lettering.

My bus number (if any): RML2532

It is a nice conversion, but that awning makes the vehicle over-width. Considering the propensity for chip shops to go up in flames, I don't think I would wish to dine upstairs. Downstairs looks a bit dodgy for the staff getting out too. I hope too that the fat fryer can be moved easily, because it is right on top of the access panel to the fuel tank connections and partially blocking the gearbox floor trap. The top picture also appears to indicate that there is something possibly blocking the flywheel access dome.

I think that the recent appearance of tastefully converted Routemasters into Bars and catering facilities whilst retaining the overall ethos of the bus as a classic vehicle is a huge improvement on some of the dreadful conversions that have befallen many Routemasters.

One wonders just why a Routemaster is selected for some conversions as it is clearly inappropriate in almost every aspect of the project. Other types of bus ( or truck) would be far more versatile in many cases. And in many cases a lot cheaper.

Many newer conversions have been carried out with retrofitting in mind. So it could return to it's original state at a later stage. One of the better options of using a Routemaster is the semi - modular design.
The downside is the amount of 'conversion specialists' who seem to have not noticed this aspect of the types design.


There's been a sudden influx of Citroen Vans being used in all manner of generally upmarket catering ventures. Quite where these have suddenly come from who knows, Especially as they have been a quite sought after vehicle on the classic vehicle scene right across europe.

Now Bedford CA and Commer Ice Cream vans are appearing restored to period looks in shopping centres and events.
The Routemaster fits in very well for this and there is a strong marketing link between proven classic and quality.

In classic mode it has become a very effective marketing tool, but it has to have that unspoilt look to retain that aura.

Unless you are TfL. Who recently sent out press releases over a special edition of a well known Electric Guitar which also celebrates it's 60th anniversary. The special edition was based on the lines of the classic London Routemaster bus, So what did they send to the photocall? " A classic Routemaster'....except it was an LT! Ooops!
Not always a good idea to try and con the media, who were rather refreshingly not buying that one.!

Where it goes wrong for me is when we see the Hacking up of a perfectly good vehicle, Like the M&Ms bus which could have easily been fabricated & constructed from a minimum of real external parts..

The other issue is the disposing of parts rendered surplus during a conversion, Otherwise rare parts get skipped rather than offered to interested parties

At least one converter in the south east is aware of the need to NOT bin parts! He is also aware of the need to keep floor traps accessible.

My bus number (if any): RML2532

It's fine what they done

My bus number (if any): RMs 238, 471. 2213 & GS17

I see the Snog Frozen Yoghurt RML has been retrofitted with original rear lights and ears but has garish wheel trims ? Maybe a remnant from being fitted by the previous owner who apparently won it in the Ensign raffle and a bit lost with all the other refinements ?

My bus number (if any): RML2747