Lovely jubbly! Del Boy’s van is now a coffee café

Nick Andrews has converted his Reliant into a 'Cushty Coffee' stall. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Father-of-two Nick Andrews even brings a suitcase and cap with him to sell hot drinks and snacks from his replica van.

The triffic new business venture has only been up and running a few weeks, but Nick says he is being constantly stopped by people giggling and taking pictures of the novelty mobile coffee machine.

The 35-year-old from Hull said: “I’ve had the idea sat on a shelf for about five years now, ever since I bought the van.

“I originally bought it as part of a hiring company to television companies, but now I’ve decided to do something a bit different.

“Life’s too short and I’ve never been the type of person suited to doing a boring job.

“The name just came to me. I was drinking a cup of coffee and thinking about the van when it appeared in my head.”

Nick spent £20,000 converting the vehicle, with £3,000 on a top-end quality coffee machine.

“I did think about going down the Del Boy route and buying a cheap, knock-off kettle”, Nick said.

“But I didn’t think that would go down too well. It’s novelty but it’s great coffee.”

He added: “I worked in events before so it’s a bit of a career change. I think this is just something different.

“There’s so many bad stories going around, I think it’s important to do something to put a smile on people’s faces.

“That, to me, is a good day’s work.

“On a day’s work I get people taking pictures of the van and coming up to me saying how different and quirky it is. There’s a constant echo of laughter going past.

“It’s definitely something alternative.

“I’ve tried normal jobs all my life and I don’t last two minutes.”

Nick says his business venture is inspired by his childhood, having watched the hit comedy series when he was a youngster.

“I’m just a big kid that never wants to grow up at heart. All my business ideas are based on childhood and nostalgia.

“I’m a massive lifelong Star Wars fan and collect loads of props and memorabilia, too.”

Nick is taking his van to small events and car boot sales, but is soon hoping to expand the business and venture into doing festivals and larger events.

The self-trained barista said his wife Nat, a 41-year-old social worker, doesn’t know what to make his mobile coffee van.

“She thinks I’m a bit of a plonker really. My two kids, who are three and five, watch the show and they’re always calling me a plonker.”