We ride on the Up First bus before it comes into service - "It has exceeded all my expectations"

BristolWorld had the opportunity to hop onto the new Up First bus ahead of its launch and enjoy a bus ride around the colourful Bedminster.

The double-decker bus has been transformed by the Bristolian legendary street artist Cheo as part of the partnership between UPFEST PRESENTS and First Bus.

We were blown away by the amount of details on the design which included the stunning Clifton Suspension Bridge, the hot air balloons from Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, the iconic Somerset Apple trees featured in Thatcher's Gold Somerset Cider and Glastonbury's historical Tor.

The bus comes into service on May 13 and aims to spread the joy of the colourful UPFEST to the northern part of the city as it takes the route from the city centre to Yate and Thornbury.

The bus might also go on a summer tour and be used in the Western-Super-Mare service or the 376 service to Wells. Up First will continue to remain in service indefinitely, leaving a legacy beyond the event’s 17-day culture programme.

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During the bus ride, we had the opportunity to talk with Stephen Hayles, co-founder of UPFEST, who said: "[First Bus] approached us about becoming our sustainable transport partner for the festival, promoting easy ways of getting to our event which takes place between the 17th of May and the 2nd of June. They approached us and had the idea of painting the bus and we went to them with the artist Cheo.

“Cheo has been a Bristol staple. You'll recognise his work from his signature bee. He's been painting the streets of Bristol for the last 30 years. He was one of the original early graffiti artists in the city. He's known for creating these joyful, colourful characters. His skill is actually taking any object and turning it into a character. His work is amazing.

"They loved the design he came up with and the outside of the bus is what we've ended up with. It's amazing."

On the top floor of the colourful bus, Sarah Wallbridge, Senior Marketing Manager for First Bus Wales and West, explained: "I'm a massive fan of UPFEST, I think it's so Bristolian, so West Country, and I think it just truly encapsulates the city of Bristol and I wanted our buses to be part of that and also to expand UPFEST to wider areas so that buses would travel around the city and people could appreciate the wonderful street art that Cheo's done.

"I've been popping in and out all weekend just because I've been so excited to see the design develop. Cheo's done it all freehand and it has exceeded all my expectations. The design really incorporates everything we wanted to and more.

"It covers the city, so it's got some city icons like the suspension bridge, the Balloon Fiesta. It's got some of the country areas, so we've got the apple trees, we've got some of the farm animals that you kind of perhaps see in some of our farms around the West Country area. And then we've got the coast, so we've got Western Super mare on the back.

"Every time I look at it I find something that just amazes me and think, ‘Wow, I love that.’ I love the llamas on the back. I asked him whether he could put those on just because I think they're so much fun. And I think people of all ages will really appreciate them and it will make them smile and think, 'That's cool'."

The Up First bus will be trackable from the First Bus website. To keep up to date with the latest news, follow UPFEST on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #UPFIRST to share sightings of the Cheo double-decker.

Over 200 artworks and murals will be painted across Southville through the 17-day cultural programme that takes place between May 17 and June 2. For more information on UPFEST PRESENTS, head to the website.