From a barren falling-down building in an industrial estate to a thriving business earning itself legendary status in Manchester, Oldham's own 'taste of Texas' restaurant has come a long way in five years.
The Old School BBQ Bus (OSBB) on Alford Street has long earned its stripes as one of the best ranches in the North West, having shot to fame for its tender barbecued food, 'moonshine' cocktails and impressive Texas-themed venue that's fit for any cowboy.
The journey started way back in 2016 when wannabe celebrity chef, Mark Fairley, began serving up his hot takes - including his viral Eccles 'burger cake' - from a specially imported Arizonan Bluebird International yellow school bus from the 1980s.
Mark had secured a business loan to purchase the vintage vehicle which he then kitted out and operated as a food truck before setting his sights on a more permanent parking place.
He eventually settled on a spot in an industrial estate in Chadderton just over a year later, where the former Bardsley Dance Centre stood in a semi-demolished state.
It took the father-of-one several months to bring his vision to life and build a restaurant from scratch, but the OSBB finally swung its saloon doors open for the first time in at the start of 2018.
Since then, the restaurant continually tweaks its menu but offers a generous serving of low-and-slow barbecued meats and Texas-inspired cocktails, such as Cactus Juice, Bubble-gum Bandit, Passionate Outlaw and Sweet Mississippi.
Last year was arguably a monumental year for the OSBB as it added four accolades from the Restaurant Guru Awards 2022 to its name, turned the Bus into a comedy venue, hosted its first wedding and appeared on Channel 4's Come Dine with Me: The Professionals where Mark and his head chef, Dawn Draper, lost out on the top prize by just one point.
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Viewers across the country watched as Mark and Dawn 'wowed' the other contestants on the show with their massaged and slowly cooked smoked pork, which took them six hours in total.
Unfortunately, they were beaten by Manchester's One Plus Chinese Restaurant and while the humble pair said the best restaurant won, many loyal customers in Oldham claimed the duo were "robbed" of the victory.
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But it wasn't Mark's television debut with the business owner appearing in the BBC One Documentary, 'A Matter of Life and Debt', where he talked about the success of his start-up loan - and the Bus has featured as a backdrop not once but three times in various music videos.
READ MORE: The Old School BBQ Bus receives four Restaurant Guru 2022 awards
Beyond television, Mark has also contributed to a cookbook, which is still being sold in the restaurant, and has been crowned a finalist in both the 2018 and 2019 Oldham Business Awards as 'business person of the year'.
But keeping it local is a top priority for Mark which can be seen in the restaurant right down from its fresh produce to the furniture.
Completing a dramatic makeover in the sweltering summer heat last year, Mark ensured local businesses have been woven in at every stage of the refurb.
New artificial grass from Great Grass in Failsworth now covers what was once the tarmac floor and custom-made whiskey barrels from Flux Interiors in Stockport hug the bar.
A new dessert shack was also added to the Bus in July which flogs ice cream from a family farm in Lancaster.
Meanwhile, Mark created his own Moonshine line, with the help of a distillery in Strinesdale, which comes in five 'crazy' flavours - Manchester tart, Blackpool rock, maple bacon, 'shimmy raspberry jam doughnut' and 'Vimtohhh'.
"I'm all about keeping things local and boosting different places - and small businesses", Mark said in summer.
It's clear the success of the place boils down to Mark's entrepreneurial grit and determination.
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The 40-year-old said he barely sleeps a wink at night as he's scheming the next big thing for the bus - that, and he's up at 4am to tend to his 'low and slow' barbecued meats.
However, it hasn't been all plain sailing as, like most independent small businesses, the pandemic paired with the cost-of-living crisis has taken its toll.
Even bad weather has threatened the venue at times but the bus continues to weather the storm.
Mark said: "We have had everything thrown at us and we mean it - bad weather, break-ins, lockdown, constant price rises - but we are still here.
"We have had so many lucky breaks, being part of a BBC documentary and Channel 4's Come Dine With Me: The Professionals as well as filming music videos and being asked by Warner Bros to uproot the BBQ Bus to Glasgow to film the new Flash Movie - with a speaking part, too.
"What a ride we have had and there will be many more years of exciting stuff we have planned."
In true BBQ Bus style, the restaurant kicked off its 'big birthday bash' celebrations on Friday, January 20, with a night of music, magic tricks, balloon creations and face painting.
Reflecting on the OSBB's fifth anniversary, Mark added: "Wow. Who would have thought a small food truck would accomplish this? We've made a dream a reality.
"Here's to the next five years."
But for Mark, booming business has come from the OSBB's loyal fans.
"We are still here, thanks to our amazing customers.
"Thank you for your continued support over the past five years.
"We are still here fighting.
"Support your local business - we need you more than ever", he added.
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