Steven Knight catches up with Adam Barrett, who owns Rutland-based coach and bus operator Bland’s
BLAND: rather dull and unexciting. Weak, plain, boring. Forgettable
These may be typical dictionary definitions of the word ‘bland’ but beneath the plain cream exterior of its coaches and the Bland’s fleetname, the definition could not be applied to the Rutland-based business belonging to Adam Barrett.
Firstly, let’s put that livery into context. Yes, it’s a single colour and a light hue at that but if anyone says a single unrelieved bus and coach livery cannot exude class and impact then they are wrong. The cream livery and distinctive fleetname means that you cannot fail to notice a Bland’s coach or bus, and there are no conflicting livery lines fighting against the natural contours of the vehicle.
Perhaps the light overall colour gives an incentive to keep the vehicles immaculately clean – not always easy with the country roads and lanes along which a number of local bus services and contracts operate.
Bland’s is based in the Rutland village of Essendine. You may have heard of both. Rutland is England’s smallest county whilst Essendine’s claim to fame is that it is on the stretch of railway where on 3 July 1938, LNER’s A4 steam locomotive ‘Mallard’ set a new world speed record, achieving 126mph. As a nod to that historic event, the location of Bland’s depot is at Mallard Park, located off the main Stamford to Bourne road next to the East Coast Main Line and the old Essendine station.
There have been several incarnations of Bland’s operating coach and bus services in the area (see panel) but the current company, Bland’s (Rutland) Limited, became a legal entity in September 2020 when the company name was changed from Mark Bland Travel – just short of 12 months after Adam became the sole director of the business. It now holds a Standard International licence with authorisation for 30 vehicles.
I received a warm welcome from Adam and his Local Bus Service Manager Alison as soon as I arrived at the depot and within minutes the first cup of coffee was offered. I started by asking Adam how he became involved with the industry, which then saw him owning a company when he was only 27 years old.
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