A NEW street food vendor aims to offer the people of Basingstoke gourmet American dining and fresh coffee from a bespoke tailored van.

The Make Your Own (MYO) Street Food Group will introduce their latest converted 1970s Renault van Arabella – or Bella for short – with home made burgers, New England clam chowder, slow cooked brisket and American style pancakes just the way you want it.

Bella will be run by Cameron Fisher, 21 who has helped to expand the business from its original base in Salisbury.

For business owner Victoria Ponsford, adding another branch to the MYO brand gives them more variety and more options.

“At events we would always see burger vans offering greasy burgers and cheap coffee having the longest queues,” said the 26-year-old.

“So I thought why not offer a decent cup of coffee and a burger that people can have made exactly how they way they want it.”

MYO Street Food started after Victoria had decided to quit a career in software to chase her dreams of owning her own restaurant back in 2014.

Not knowing where to start, friends had recommended street food, and after a trip to Italy to get some inspiration, she bought her first van – Theo – and hit the road.

She said: “Ever since I was 11-years-old I had dreamed about owning my own restaurant, so to go into it was a bit scary as I didn’t know how it was going to go.

“I am really proud of what we have achieved, and I do think the vans are our unique selling point as people are always taking photos of them and asking me the story behind them.

“By adding the second van it opens up new avenues for us, not just in food it means we can have two vans at separate events or they can work as a duo, I no longer have to turn down clients due to double booking.”

Family friends Victoria and Cameron believe that Bella will thrive in Basingstoke and are currently in talks with Festival Place to introduce this unique way of dining.

Cameron said: “We want people to see the vans and say ‘look it’s Theo or it’s Bella’ then they get to know us and they get to know the brand.”

The pair already having bookings for Isle of Wight Festival and Victorious Festival, and are currently planning an official launch party for Bella, with the date and location yet to be confirmed.

To find out more about what MYO Street Food do, visit myogroup.co.uk.