The owner of the Old School BBQ Bus in Oldham has appealed for help after £500 of produce was allegedly stolen, warning that another incident could spell closure. Mark Fairley, who has run the business in Chadderton for several years, described the suspected theft as a "serious blow" in a social media post.
The Old School BBQ Bus operates a diner and barbecue concept inside a converted 1982 Bluebird International American yellow school bus. It serves slow-cooked BBQ specialities including flame-grilled chicken wings, 16-hour smoked prime black Angus brisket, and apricot glazed pork belly.
Appeal for information
Fairley shared CCTV footage on Instagram with a post reading: "Do you recognise this man? Please share." The post detailed that around £500 worth of meat was stolen from the walk-in kitchen on 08/11/2026 at 20:37pm while staff were cleaning at the end of their shift.
The post said: "We're asking for help identifying the man in the cap shown in this video in connection with the theft. He was reportedly seen selling the meat just 20 minutes later at a local establishment, which we will not be naming." It added that other people in the footage have been blurred to protect their privacy.
"For a small, independent restaurant already facing tough times, losing this amount of stock is a serious blow. Our community helped us enormously last time, and we're asking for your support again," the post continued.
Business history and recent success
The BBQ concept began as a food stall visiting festivals and markets before opening a permanent spot in a Failsworth car park in 2016. Following demand, Fairley relocated to his current Chadderton base, which he described as "the UK's first outdoor purpose-built BBQ street food venue".
In late summer, Fairley shared that the restaurant had received a gold seal honour from the Good Food Awards, marking the fourth year in a row. The gold seal is only given to venues that maintain high standards in food quality, service, and value for money.
Impact on the business
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Fairley said: "They went into the walk-in fridge, helped themselves to brisket, pork collar, and ribs. We can't claim on the insurance due to the excess." He added that he did not know about the theft until the next morning when he did a stock check and checked cameras.
Fairley noted the challenges facing the hospitality industry, saying: "People just aren't coming, and the price per head has come down. We have to reduce hours for staffing because bills are still the same - where do we save money? It's just more money we have to find." He also expressed concern for his staff and said he is considering stepping up security.
The incident has been reported to Greater Manchester Police. A force spokesperson said: "We are investigating reports of a theft from a business on Alford Street, Oldham. No arrests have been made and anyone with information is asked to contact GMP." Officers can be contacted via 101 or Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting reference CRI/06QQ/0024679/26. Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
