The Fire & Smoke Catering Trailer!

Hello everyone

It's surreal to find myself sharing this, but here's our story.

Recently, we invested in a large catering trailer, aiming to compete at significant events and shift our business back to its roots - selling food directly to customers rather than through delivery platforms. We were fortunate to purchase the trailer from TikTok sensation 'Spud Man' at a fantastic price. To tow it, we acquired a beautiful 2002 Land Rover. She really was a beauty.

We had several major events lined up for the latter part of the year, including a spot at Hull Fair. Given the challenges of relying heavily on delivery platforms, which take a significant commission, attending more autumn/winter events was crucial for our direct-to-customer sales strategy.

With excitement, my friend and I embarked on a road trip to Tamworth to collect the trailer. The plan was to fetch it, spruce it up, and unveil it as a surprise for our team and customers. I had managed all essential tasks, from insurance and recovery to joining the RAC towing club.

Upon arrival, the size of the unit was daunting. I was bricking it. While I was new to towing, my friend had experience. I requested he drive initially to ease us onto main roads. Fortunately, he was insured via his policy. He probably saw my face and took pity on me. He was going to start me off.

However, just 10 minutes in, we faced a harrowing ordeal. A memory that will sadly stay with me for some time. A real life squeaky bum time.

At 35 mph, the trailer began to sway violently. The Land Rover was tossed about like a Go Kart, we lost control. As we jackknifed, the trailer flipped, propelling us forward. We weren't stopping. Facing a massive tree, I braced for impact, fearing the worst. I literally thought my brisket smoking days were gone.

Miraculously, when the dust settled, we were both unharmed. We managed to break our way out and climb out of the drivers side window. The car was smoking at this point and we had 4 LPG bottles behind our head on the trailer.

We totally blocked the road, kind strangers came to our aid, followed by the brilliant and amazing emergency services. Heros.

We're immensely grateful to be alive and are still processing the event. One thing is sure: I'm grateful to cook again. Long live the brisket.

You might wonder, "Why GoFundMe? Insured?" Indeed, we were, but my friend only for third-party damages. He was doing me a favour remember. The responsibility was mine, having asked my friend to drive. That's on me.

Sarah and I personally financed this venture with £20,000, expecting autumn/winter events to offset the cost. Gulp. What a gamble. Yup.

With this loss, we're unable to attend our scheduled events and urgently need another trailer. The show must go on.

I've seen the power of collective support and remain hopeful. We believe we've made a positive impact both as individuals and through our business. If we manage to raise the funds, rest assured this new trailer will serve a good purpose.

Thank you for your time,

Ashley & Sarah

Farsley Fire and Smoke

---