THIS is not just an ordinary bus – the double-decker has been expertly transformed into a cafe, complete with kitchen, seating and tables.

Visitors to Manydown Farm Shop were all aboard the unique cafe to sample the food and refreshments on offer at the official opening.

Bosses at Manydown, at Scrapps Hill Farm, in Worting Road, have been working on the idea since the beginning of the year, and had the bus completely converted and refurbished by a professional company.

The bus was in service in Newcastle, and started off its life bright yellow.

But it has now been painted a more subtle green.

Dan Bentley, operations manager at Manydown, said: “We wanted to do something different and something unique and you can’t find anything like this close by.

“We wanted to make Manydown more of a destination so people can come and enjoy themselves and spend a couple of hours here. And we wanted to take advantage of there not being many cafes nearby and be somewhere people can meet and socialise.”

Visitors to the Bus Stop Cafe can enjoy breakfast, lunches, tea, coffee and cakes, with locally sourced produce, much of which can be bought in the farm shop.

And in keeping with the double-decker theme, customers will find double-decker cakes and sandwiches on the menu as well as a bus ticket loyalty card.

The bus is still fully functioning, and Mr Bentley said it can drive to events such as festivals or school fetes, and could be hired out for parties.

There is seating upstairs for around 30 people as well as an outside seating area providing al fresco dining under the shade of an awning.

Mr Bentley said: “We wanted to excel ourselves and take something old and battered and change it into something exciting. I’m so happy with the result.”