Huge Leeds United fan transforms landmark A64 Red Bus Cafe to achieve childhood dream

The landmark cafe on York Road had been a popular destination to grab a meal on long journeys for commuters to locations including Scarborough.

However, the cafe closed and was put up for auction in late 2019.Leeds United mad Danny Care, 48, said he used to pass the red bus cafe as a child on trips to Scarborough and told the Yorkshire Evening Post he had 'gone past it 1000 times' - but amazingly never been inside.

After spotting the lucrative opportunity to get his hands on the cafe, Danny said he had to give his childhood dream of owning the cafe 'a go'.

In the original auction Danny said he was the highest bidder - but his offer unfortunately did not reach the reserve.

In spite of the setback, determined Danny got in touch with the previous owner and a deal was made 'within five minutes'.

Danny, from Leeds, has now renovated the popular cafe - even changing the service to a new range of kebabs during lockdown to suit his customers.

Kebabs were available to order from the cafe for the lockdown months and proved extremely successful for the business.

Danny told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "When I got in contact with the previous owner I found out it was a friend of mine from years ago and we did a deal within five minutes.

"I've changed a few things around and bought some new equipment including a new generator as the old one was inadequate.

"I've also got in touch with a top quality butchers in Leeds who is doing our breakfast items but has also done us a 6 oz burger with a quality recipe only for the bus because when I told him what the cafe was he said his father always brought him as a kid and he had some great memories of this place so he's going to look after me!"

The cafe is currently opening Monday to Sunday from 7.30am to 2pm.

New owner Danny has grand plans to start serving Sunday dinners in the near future.

The lockdown 'kebab van' format was also lapped up by customers.

Danny said: "At the minute we are working here Monday to sat from 7.30 till 2pm but will be doing Sunday dinners in the near future and we have had a lot of demand to get the kebabs up and running again that we did while we couldn't open the cafe.

"I personally have lived in Leeds all my life and I am a big fan of the team my other half is the same."

Danny's partner Nicola Preston has decorated the full bus upstairs with drawings of fruit trees and also done all the garden works outside, Danny said.

In September 2018, the most recent owners of the converted 1968 double-decker gave up running the cafe and put it on the market.

The Cafe has had a range of owners over the years.

In 2008 teenager Vicky Gray, from Seacroft, gave the business a go, and by 2014 it was in the hands of Jo Keighron and her daughters.