0:00:02 > 0:00:04City tours, folks. Hop on, hop off.
0:00:04 > 0:00:05Please stop harassing these women.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09Well, it's like a dog eat dog show out there, you know?
0:00:09 > 0:00:10People want people on their buses
0:00:10 > 0:00:14and they would do anything sometimes to, you know, provoke you.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16I'm trying... I do... I do...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18I do apologise.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21I am trying to speak to you, but this guy keeps interrupting.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25There's a gold rush on the streets of Belfast.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28That's our eighth bus that went out now full top and bottom.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29Bring it on.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31I could sell snow to an Eskimo,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34sand to the Arabs,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and fries to us boys, no problem.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38THEY LAUGH
0:00:39 > 0:00:44Last year, well over two million people visited Northern Ireland.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Well, I'm looking forward to seeing something about the Titanic.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Some wanted to see the sights.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53It's a fairly impressive city, isn't it?
0:00:53 > 0:00:55It's very impressive. Beautiful.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Some came to soak up the TV stardust.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03That's the father's names.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09And some were returning to a place they haven't seen in a lifetime.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Oh, my goodness. I am home, aren't I?
0:01:12 > 0:01:16This is the inside story of Northern Ireland's Bus Wars.
0:01:19 > 0:01:20From the tourists who come here...
0:01:20 > 0:01:23I've been to some of the other wonders of the world,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25it definitely ranks right up there.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27It was fantastic.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- The clutch is out of it.- BLEEP- me.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36..to the parts of the business that nobody else gets to see.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40The way the tours are run in Belfast at the moment, it's really a war.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Welcome to Bus Wars.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57When we're walking down here, hold your belly in.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00- We're the kings of this town, aren't we?- Yeah.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01Don't talk, just hold it in.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05In the city centre, Alfie and Owen are hard at work.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Don't push me or my belly will pop out.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- Just do the swagger. - Oh, God, there it goes.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14Today it's quiet...
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Hop-on-hop-off today, folks.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18City tours.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Here he is, not working yet again.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27..which means Alfie and Owen have to amuse themselves.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31OWEN LAUGHS
0:02:31 > 0:02:33What was that?
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Tourist numbers in Belfast are on the rise,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39but Alfie and Owen say more and more visitors
0:02:39 > 0:02:41are doing private coach tours,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44so their job is getting harder.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45Hello!
0:02:45 > 0:02:47They come in, they have their own guide on the buses
0:02:47 > 0:02:50- and they go round so they don't have the time any more.- No.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57It is definitely dwindling from the last four or five years.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00There's one of them private tours I was talking about.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Even now, the peak season,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06isn't great compared to what way it used to be.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10No bicycles on the footpath, please.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Not on the footpath or I will have to put your name in the book.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15- £50 fine.- Yes.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Can I have your name, please?
0:03:19 > 0:03:21No. My name?
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Yeah, no bicycles on the footpath.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26No bicycles on the footpath.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28£50 and £50 is £100.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32I know you're not from this country but the rule is no warnings.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33We saw nothing...
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Cos we hide the signs,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38we hide them and we don't let you see them so we can book you
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- and get cash. - So we can fine you then.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41No, you are joking.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43THEY LAUGH
0:03:47 > 0:03:50- We sell bus tours!- Yeah, bus tours.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Benn Allen has been running bus tours in Northern Ireland for a decade.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Until four years ago he owned an open-top sightseeing company
0:04:02 > 0:04:04giving tours of Belfast city,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07but after getting into trouble with the authorities
0:04:07 > 0:04:11he had to sell up and now does private coach tours
0:04:11 > 0:04:13of the Causeway Coast.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Tonight he has come to meet his business adviser Kelly,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Kelly is very good because she advises a lot of people on business
0:04:24 > 0:04:27and start-up businesses and that sort of thing.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28So if you're coming up with a new idea,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30that's generally the best person to speak to
0:04:30 > 0:04:33because that's the sort of people she deals with.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Where's chips? I'll have a portion of chips.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37- Thanking you. - That's lovely, thank you.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- Cheers.- Great.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42There's a couple of things that I'm thinking of here business-wise here,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45some for the near future and some slightly longer.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48One of them is I'm going to start getting into doing trips
0:04:48 > 0:04:51over to England and weeks away on holidays and that sort of thing.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53But I'm also thinking -
0:04:53 > 0:04:56you're probably going to talk me out of this one -
0:04:56 > 0:04:58of going back into the town centre to do the open-top buses again.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- Are you mad?- Well, yes.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Were you not over the moon when somebody wanted to buy you out?
0:05:05 > 0:05:06No, I wasn't that happy at the time.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Do you not want to do something different
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- that other people aren't doing? - Well, that's always a good thing.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Because you're just getting into the city again.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Do you really want to go through all that hassle?
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Yeah, because it's great fun.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19- More people to fight with.- Yeah.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Oh, look at that!
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Great stuff. Thanking you.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Oh, lovely.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26And yours.
0:05:26 > 0:05:27- Great stuff.- Thank you very much.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31- You might as well think outside the box and do something different.- Mm.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Where do you want to go? Ask them.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35- Ask who?- The tourists.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Where would you like to go, what would you like to see?
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Something different that people aren't doing here.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Yeah, definitely needed.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44'Speaking to Kelly,
0:05:44 > 0:05:49'I'm tending to agree with her on that situation.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52'You know, to think of something new or a variation
0:05:52 > 0:05:54'on what we're already doing that nobody else is doing.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56'I think that's definitely advisable.'
0:05:56 > 0:06:01# I'm going home. #
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- It's all getting quite exciting now. - Aye, that's it.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17Benn isn't the only one hoping to try something new this summer.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21City Sightseeing Belfast is expanding to Newcastle, County Down,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23and it's all a bit of a gamble.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Obviously we're taking resources away from Belfast, you know,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29which is a tried and tested business.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31It is something new.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33But if they're going to sell this tour to visitors,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36first they need the approval of local business owners.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38That's what today is all about.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40There's a lot resting on the shoulders
0:06:40 > 0:06:42of tour guide Brian English.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and what a good morning it is, too.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49And welcome to City Sightseeing Down Explorer.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50Well, I'll be trying to tell you
0:06:50 > 0:06:53a bit about your own town and your own area.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55'I haven't been to Newcastle.'
0:06:55 > 0:06:58I've been once in probably eight years,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01so it all came from Wikipedia.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05We're moving off from the Newcastle promenade.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09It's a promenade that has changed quite dramatically in recent years.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13There are many new pieces of artwork which have been introduced
0:07:13 > 0:07:15to enhance the visitor experience,
0:07:15 > 0:07:19making the promenade a unique mix of the very new and the very old,
0:07:19 > 0:07:22as a town inviting you to discover more of it.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25If Brian can impress the locals today
0:07:25 > 0:07:27despite his lack of first-hand knowledge,
0:07:27 > 0:07:32City Sightseeing could have this town and its lucrative tourist trade
0:07:32 > 0:07:34all to themselves.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Even the stone walls have a story to tell.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Welcome to sunny Belfast.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Back in Belfast it's a different story.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Come and we'll get you sorted for the next bus, then.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Here, City Sightseeing reps like Paul Baker have to slug it out
0:07:54 > 0:07:57for every customer with their biggest rivals,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Titanic and City Tours.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00My next bus is leaving at quarter to the hour.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02And it also takes 90 minutes?
0:08:02 > 0:08:03- It does.- It also takes 90 minutes.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06If you do hop-off our bus we are more frequent, too.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08If you hop-off the bus you wouldn't have enough time.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Come on and we'll bring you down and get tickets cos the bus
0:08:10 > 0:08:12- will be leaving in five. - Yeah, no problem.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14- Yous have a nice day. Enjoy your tour.- Thank you.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18That's the way it goes. It happens.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Both companies wear red jackets,
0:08:20 > 0:08:23so it's difficult for tourists to even tell them apart.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- Are they different companies?- Yes.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29But to the staff who work for them, there's a world of difference.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34Titanic and City Tours sell themselves as the local company.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- This is the local company, this is the global monster.- OK.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42City Sightseeing tours make the most of their internationally-recognised
0:08:42 > 0:08:46brand that operates in 36 different cities.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48The enemy with a face but no names.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51- Why are we enemies? - No face, no case.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Because you try and steal customers.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Alfie says he tries to do battle with his competitor
0:08:56 > 0:08:58even when he's off the clock.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00I'll tell you a story.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03I went to Liverpool and I was getting on the City Explorer.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06And this is true, isn't it? Because I phoned you.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10I was in the queue to get the local City Tour Explorer in Liverpool
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and there was two people from Londonderry in the other queue
0:09:13 > 0:09:16for the City Sightseeing and I talked them into our queue.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19You can rub out Belfast and write whatever city you like.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- That's him on holiday. That's Alfie on holiday.- Yeah.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- Bus, bus, bus. - Yeah. Definitely.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29In the past the rivalry on the streets has spilled over
0:09:29 > 0:09:31into something more serious.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Sean, how are you? Keeping well? All right, mate?
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Sean Donnelly is the owner of Titanic and City Tours.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Two years ago he was convicted of common assault
0:09:40 > 0:09:43after getting into a row on the street with a worker
0:09:43 > 0:09:44from City Sightseeing.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46I think it was a wee bit stupid.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Being one of the owners of the company
0:09:48 > 0:09:50I should have walked away out of the road, you know?
0:09:50 > 0:09:51But unfortunately...
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Lord rest my mother, she always says to me,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58"Sean, you need to count to ten."
0:09:58 > 0:10:00But unfortunately I counted to ten.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02One, two... But anyway.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06Relations between the two companies are better now than they used to be.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Most of us in the town have done it on and off
0:10:09 > 0:10:13for the last lot of years so we know how to deal with stuff.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15And we know from the bad times and all the arguing,
0:10:15 > 0:10:17- we don't want to go back to that. - No.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20So it's better now the way it is, and if we run it ourselves
0:10:20 > 0:10:22the way we do, everybody gets on.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23It's a forgery.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26Get on the bus. Hurry up.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30I'm not even a tourist. You're bad. That is bad!
0:10:30 > 0:10:32It had you going, didn't it?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34HE LAUGHS
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Bus porn.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44After his meeting with Kelly,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Benn is having second thoughts about starting a new open-top bus company.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Straight to the back here, get the classifieds open.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Instead, he's decided to expand his private coach business by adding
0:10:55 > 0:10:56another vehicle to the fleet.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Being involved in buses, it's almost addictive.
0:11:04 > 0:11:05It's like a disease.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I want more seats, more comfortable seats,
0:11:10 > 0:11:14more modern-looking vehicles.
0:11:14 > 0:11:15Oh, here, there's a cracker.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- So it's a Van Hool?- Yeah, it's the newer-shaped Van Hools
0:11:18 > 0:11:20from the ones we've previously had.
0:11:20 > 0:11:21- I like the front shape. It's nice. - Yeah.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- What year is it? - Oh, that's a secret.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Oh, is it? - We're not mentioning that.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31We really need to be looking as if we're updating our fleet.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Some of our buses are 20 years old, that sort of thing.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Nobody has a new one of these particular vehicles
0:11:36 > 0:11:39because they're like 380,000 plus VAT, so...
0:11:39 > 0:11:43- INTERVIEWER:- How much are you getting this one for second-hand?
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Probably better I don't mention that.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Spoil the whole thing. Spoil the whole point.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Is there any chance you could lend me three grand until next week?
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Three grand. I'll try my hardest. I should be able to.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58We were having a wee bit of a panic there cos some of the money
0:11:58 > 0:12:01that was supposed to come in hadn't came in cos a couple of people
0:12:01 > 0:12:03haven't paid us there, so we're a few thousand pounds short.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04OK. Bye. Bye.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Right, we've got it sorted.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11One's mother is going to lend us £3,000 on a short-term loan.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13My credit rating must be good!
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Morning. Welcome. Welcome to Belfast.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22- Sorry.- Get your hair done? Lovely.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25Out on the street Benn's star salesman, Chi Wah,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27is hard at work.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29- You guys need any help there? - We're good.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31I was 16 when I first met Benn.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35And now I'm 39, OK, coming 40,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37which seems like a whole lifetime.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Have you girls are seen this?
0:12:39 > 0:12:43'I think he sees me as an asset,
0:12:43 > 0:12:45'yeah, but he doesn't show it.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47'Yeah, doesn't show it whatsoever.'
0:12:47 > 0:12:50He's been there a good wee while now and he's done very well.
0:12:50 > 0:12:51This is my big break.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54He's almost become a tourist attraction in himself.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56How are you doing, sir?
0:12:56 > 0:12:58At the end of the day it's a young man's game,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00what I'm doing now, you know?
0:13:00 > 0:13:02But somebody has to do it.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04After nine years of selling tickets on the street,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Chi Wah wants a promotion.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11I really have to get my act together, a few more months,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14to sort a few options out for myself, you know,
0:13:14 > 0:13:18and hopefully get further up the ladder in the company.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Welcome to Belfast.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25But for now, Chi Wah's boss sees his job as filling buses.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Obviously, when times are just serious pressure
0:13:27 > 0:13:30everybody just has to knuckle down, but when those periods over,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33if they need something or whatever,
0:13:33 > 0:13:34yes, they can be rewarded at that point.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37You guys need any help there? Anywhere you're looking for?
0:13:37 > 0:13:39No, we're all right, thanks.
0:13:39 > 0:13:40Anybody here tomorrow?
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Any fares tomorrow?
0:13:45 > 0:13:46Manana, manana.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50The thought-provoking walks and climbs
0:13:50 > 0:13:52around the Mourne Mountains can be...
0:13:52 > 0:13:55In Newcastle, County Down, Brian is guiding a group of
0:13:55 > 0:13:57local VIPs on a new tour.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59There's so many different walks...
0:13:59 > 0:14:04But he doesn't know the area, and it isn't going well.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07My locals know more about the area than I do.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10I know, he must be really nervous doing this
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- because we all know so much. - We'd catch him out.- Yeah.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17'Never read a script in my life and that was the one time I had to
0:14:17 > 0:14:20'and I just felt I let the company down.'
0:14:20 > 0:14:24The National Trust land around the forests can be freely explored, too.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Newcastle is a town inviting you to discover more of it.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31The old houses, many of them left abandoned,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33as the aristocracy came upon hard times.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37There was a few branches through the road
0:14:37 > 0:14:39that nearly cleaved a few people's heads off
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and I think they were more concerned about losing their head
0:14:42 > 0:14:43than what I was saying.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45- We can't hear upstairs. - Nothing at all?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Well, I've come down to tell you that we can't hear you.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Especially if you're sitting on the outside.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52'That was, I think, quite a relief.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55'And I thought, "Oh, well, I'm getting away with this." '
0:14:55 > 0:14:58And that's what had prompted me just to throw the script away
0:14:58 > 0:15:02and do what I thought I was best at doing, which is,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05er, ad-libbing.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09There's activities that they would never think of doing unless
0:15:09 > 0:15:13someone told them it was available, whether it's trekking,
0:15:13 > 0:15:14whether it's kayaking.
0:15:16 > 0:15:17It was better than it had been before.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19I mean, it couldn't have got any worse.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Thank you for bearing with me.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25I'll say it's not easy whenever you're not local,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28but thank you very much.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31At the end of the day, I think I got away with it.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33APPLAUSE
0:15:34 > 0:15:37You didn't get me at a good angle.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Benn and his uncle Richard have come to England to buy the new bus.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54- Gauges?- All coming up. - BEEPING
0:15:54 > 0:15:55Doing exactly what they're supposed to.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Beautiful. Beautiful.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00That seat's going up and down as well.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04- Aye, good.- Right. - All right, it ticks all the boxes.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05But he doesn't own it yet.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10And there's a problem.
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Madness.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Hello there. I'm trying to make a bank transfer here
0:16:20 > 0:16:22to make a purchase of a vehicle.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25It says there's a delay on the payment, you see,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27but we have to have this in their account right now.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32OK.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Well, I suppose, right enough, it's £18,000,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43they don't want you just coming in, maybe you're drunk
0:16:43 > 0:16:46and you press the number wrong or something.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49BUS BEEPS
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Back home, it's a big day for Caroline and Rodney McComb.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58They're taking on the two big open-top bus companies
0:16:58 > 0:17:02with their own tour of Belfast city centre.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Probably they'll not be happy
0:17:04 > 0:17:06about another tour of the city on offer.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10We're doing this from the point of view of developing our business
0:17:10 > 0:17:13and introducing a brand-new product into Belfast.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17We're not hop-on-hop-off, and it's a much smaller tour.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19We've had to make an investment of over £100,000
0:17:19 > 0:17:22to get this vehicle here.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24So, guys, we're just making our way down into Great Victoria Street.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28'I used to drive a private taxi in Belfast and worked for a company
0:17:28 > 0:17:30'for about ten years.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35'But during that period a couple of very unsavoury incidents occurred.'
0:17:35 > 0:17:41When an explosion goes off right beside you, it is terrifying,
0:17:41 > 0:17:45and that did knock me for six and it took me a while get over that.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50So that was the end of the taxiing days for me.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Just take a look down to your right,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54you'll get your first glimpse of the wall.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57I started doing work out of a hotel in Belfast which wasn't long opened
0:17:57 > 0:18:01in the early '90s and then one day a professor
0:18:01 > 0:18:05out of Queen's University, he got in touch with the hotel
0:18:05 > 0:18:08and asked if I would take a group up into West Belfast
0:18:08 > 0:18:11and North Belfast to let them see the wall murals
0:18:11 > 0:18:13and how things were,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17and just built it up and built it up over the years.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22So from having a run of bad luck and things happening,
0:18:22 > 0:18:26we've ended up getting a fairly good business on the back of it.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28A lovely change for us to go from Causeway tours
0:18:28 > 0:18:31and Game Of Thrones tours to be back in Belfast
0:18:31 > 0:18:34where it all started with Rodney first doing the tours.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38So it's a very special day to be back doing the first tour now
0:18:38 > 0:18:39going out with us.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51His financial hiccup cleared up, Benn is on his way home from England.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56# Is it my imagination
0:18:56 > 0:19:01# Or have I finally found something worth living for? #
0:19:10 > 0:19:11That was close!
0:19:11 > 0:19:15And with his old rivals now starting another city centre tour,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Benn is changing his plans.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Belfast is only large enough to have one open-top tour company in it.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25That's... I've known that right from the start.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28I think, really, the direction I'm going to head in
0:19:28 > 0:19:31over certainly the next six to eight months is to start looking
0:19:31 > 0:19:33to doing things outside of Northern Ireland.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36It's all about getting over into the European trips,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39and that's going to involve having better buses
0:19:39 > 0:19:42and more expensive buses and things like that, more reliable buses.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45But first Benn has a big hurdle to overcome.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48I need more drivers. The big problem at the moment is drivers.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50And it's not just me,
0:19:50 > 0:19:54every single bus company in the whole country
0:19:54 > 0:19:57is having the same problem at the moment.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59That's about half a mile out to sea there, look.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00It's away.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03But don't worry about it, we'll get the next boat.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Fortunately, Benn has a new driver in mind.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11All he has to do is learn how to drive a bus.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Hello, welcome to Belfast.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16Excuse me. Are you guys OK there? Do you need any help?
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Chi Wah has been looking for a promotion
0:20:18 > 0:20:20in Benn's company for years.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22This could be his big chance.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26I think if Chi Wah really is determined and wants to do this
0:20:26 > 0:20:29I think it's a brilliant idea. He would never be out of work.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31He wouldn't necessarily always have to work for me,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34but no matter where he went he would always be able to get a job.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37It'd certainly broaden his horizons, there's no doubt about that.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39- INTERVIEWER:- Do you think they need to be broadened a bit?
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Yeah, it will do him the world of good.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Category D, any bus with more than eight passenger seats
0:20:44 > 0:20:48and trailer that does not exceed 750kg.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53And hopefully they're not looking too much experience.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55I've got a car licence coming ten years
0:20:55 > 0:20:58and I drove my father's car for about...
0:20:58 > 0:21:0015 minutes,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02and that almost put me off driving.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- How are you? - Not bad. Just up here for me.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06Up here, yeah. If I take the...
0:21:06 > 0:21:09So that was the last time I drove.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12More or less, I've used my driving licence for ID instead.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15So all motorists beware, you know?
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Because Chi is on the road here.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Chi Wah is about to find out if he has what it takes
0:21:20 > 0:21:22to be a bus driver.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Benn has booked some time at a track.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34I'll be able to tell just by looking at his face
0:21:34 > 0:21:36whether it's for him or not.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39If he's a nervous wreck, forget about it.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42But if... Well, he can be a nervous wreck AND enjoying it,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45there's some chance. But if he's a nervous wreck and he's crying,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48or anything like that, it's obvious it's no good for him.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51But I'll be able to tell within a very short space of time
0:21:51 > 0:21:52whether this is any good for him or not.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- Are you ready for this? - Yes, I'm going to have to be, yeah.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56I'm been waiting long enough.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- Get this on you.- Oh, my goodness.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00- That on there.- Oh!
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Oh, watch my ears!
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Benn has come prepared.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06- That goes on there. - Hope I don't have to wear this
0:22:06 > 0:22:08full-time when I'm working for you, Benn.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10No, no, that's all right. That can go in there.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14I'm not taking any chances here either, Chi.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16- CHI LAUGHS - Just my body armour on here.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18You have no faith in me at all, boss, have you?
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Just better safe than sorry.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26This is where I learned to drive buses up in this corner myself,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29so this is my present to you, so you can learn the same place,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31- because this is a good place to learn how to do it.- Yes.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33All right, so, start your engine there.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Great, there we go.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38ENGINE TURNS
0:22:38 > 0:22:41- All right!- All right, here we go. We're off.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- Into first, handbrake off. - Handbrake off.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45Nice and easy, nice and easy.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Go for it. Yo!
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- City Tour, guys? - No, we've been on it, thanks.
0:22:52 > 0:22:53Thank you.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57On the streets of Belfast, the season is drawing to a close.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59- Would you like to see Titanic? - No.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01THEY LAUGH
0:23:01 > 0:23:03No?!
0:23:03 > 0:23:05You don't like to see the Titanic?!
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Give me that there back.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10You don't like to see the Titanic?!
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Look, the ghost bus. Never nobody on that bus.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18The season hasn't been as busy as it has in previous years,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21but because there's only two companies instead of four
0:23:21 > 0:23:23as there was about four years ago,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I'd say overall they'd be happy enough.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Long winter coming.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Batten down the hatches, keep the purse strings tight.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35You need to keep a couple of buses still running from the city centre
0:23:35 > 0:23:37to keep guides happy, keep drivers happy.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But you're running at a loss. See when you...
0:23:40 > 0:23:42See when you run in December, January, February,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46you're running at a loss of about £500 to £1,000 a week,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49but you have to keep the slots, because if you don't keep the slots
0:23:49 > 0:23:52there could be another company come on board if you weren't there,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54and then they would try and take the slots.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Obviously you have to maintain a presence throughout the whole year.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Free ice cream with every bus tour!
0:23:59 > 0:24:02- INTERVIEWER:- Will you be still doing this when you're 60, 65?
0:24:02 > 0:24:03Certainly. I mean...
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Not with your feet, you'll not.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Listen to me, listen to me...
0:24:08 > 0:24:10You can't keep a good man down.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12If I can walk I will do it.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15If not, I'll get a wee spot somewhere and sell the tickets.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18He'll sort me out with a wee spot.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21I don't know. I don't know if I'll be here in another five, ten years.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24It's in... Alfie, it's in your blood, isn't it, to do this?
0:24:24 > 0:24:25- I don't know.- It's in your blood.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27What is it, a mongrel? Mutt?
0:24:27 > 0:24:30He's a breed!
0:24:30 > 0:24:31He's the mongrel.
0:24:31 > 0:24:32THEY LAUGH
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Ah, it's a lovely wee dog, isn't it?
0:24:38 > 0:24:39That's you, go ahead.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41More acceleration, more acceleration.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44- Going round to the right here. - Yeah, round to the right.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49- Up into third.- Yeah.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Second gear, second gear.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52Not fourth. Second.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Go ahead, go ahead - accelerate.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00- Yo!- There we go!- There we go, yeah.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Sweating like a madman here. Thinks he's blown the engine.
0:25:04 > 0:25:05HORN HONKS
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Give me a new gearbox!
0:25:08 > 0:25:09Now you're going too slow.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12The customers want to get there.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14They don't want to hang onto their seats, like.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17And they've all probably been sick in the back there, like.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18CHI LAUGHS
0:25:20 > 0:25:22That's it. Accelerate.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Go ahead, accelerate. That's it, keep it straight.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Keep your eyes on the road!
0:25:30 > 0:25:32End of the road.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35- Just here?- Just brake. Brake, brake, brake, brake.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Yo!
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Oh, it was unbelievable.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Great experience, and I can't wait to do it again.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Oh, the first slot was intense.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Oh, I was absolutely soaking wet.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49Drowned with sweat, and so nervous.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51And I couldn't get it into the right gear.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53He did actually rather well there.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55It was better than I was expecting him to,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57because it has been quite some time since he drove.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59He had the confidence, which is the big thing.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02You know, to drive a larger vehicle it really is about confidence,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04and he had that, no problem.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Just needed a bit of fine-tuning, bit more practice
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and he should be grand. I'm actually really happy with it.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13It was great, and the sooner we can get him on the road, the better.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16- I found a glove.- Oh, happy days.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- We'll get it welded back on. - Oh, my goodness!
0:26:18 > 0:26:20- That's good, that's good. - Get it welded back on.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22You walk like John Wayne, doesn't he?
0:26:22 > 0:26:24I always like to have a bit of character.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25Just needs his underpants changed, that's all.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34Last year, nearly 2.5 million people visited Northern Ireland.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Many of them took a bus tour.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42You went to see the Blarney Stone and you got stuck to it.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44LAUGHTER
0:26:44 > 0:26:46- It was lovely to have you on board. - That was terrific.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48- You really spoke really well. It was very entertaining.- My pleasure.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52- I want to tell you just how fantastic this was.- Oh, good.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54See you! Had a great time.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Interesting insight into Belfast.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Come again.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Guys, city tours! City tours today!
0:27:01 > 0:27:05On the streets there were highs, lows and bitter rivalries.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- Uh-oh, that's your competition? - No competition.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Locally owned. Locally owned.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12- Oh, OK.- You need to support the locals.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Locally owned, globally connected, you know what I mean?
0:27:14 > 0:27:18But from the top of a tour bus, it all looked peaceful.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20See, I like Belfast because it's...
0:27:22 > 0:27:24It's nice and relaxed.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27It's a cracking view from the right of the bus.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30- Oh, cracking view. - You're not taking any pictures?
0:27:30 > 0:27:31No, my hands are frozen.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35Oh, so cute!
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Belfast people are so nice.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41- Working hard?- Aye, working hard.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42Some of the companies have been fighting it out
0:27:42 > 0:27:44for about the last ten years.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47We've actually ended up doing something good by putting so much
0:27:47 > 0:27:51effort individually in to looking after the tours,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55and it has actually transpired into what we can see today.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56We've definitely done something good.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59You have a guide who's on board with you...
0:27:59 > 0:28:00And now that summer's over,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03there's time for a little celebration...
0:28:04 > 0:28:06..for a job well done.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Och, lads, come on - hurry up!
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- Oh, fantastic. - Oh, thanks. Yes.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Oh!
0:28:14 > 0:28:15Great end to a great day.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Right, that it?
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Let's rock and roll.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26- People will be thinking I'm away to the bar.- I know.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28# Live, baby, live
0:28:29 > 0:28:31# Now that the day is over
0:28:34 > 0:28:37# I got a new sensation... #