Cherry Picker Hire
Cherry picker and access platform hire across Kent
Our own 12.5m Versalift cherry picker on a Ford Transit, delivered with an IPAF-trained operator or self-driven on production of a valid IPAF certificate.
- Free estimates
- Insurance work undertaken
- Domestic & commercial
What's included
What we offer
Operated hire (man and van)
- Fully trained IPAF operator
- 12.5m Versalift on a Ford Transit
- We come to site and do the work
- No certification needed your end
- Fully insured
Self-drive hire (delivered to site)
- Valid IPAF certificate required
- Cherry pickers and scissor lifts
- Flexible short & long-term hire
- Delivered to your site
- Same kit, same standards
Our cherry picker, a 12.5m Versalift on a Ford Transit
The machine that turns up is our own, a 12.5m Versalift access platform built onto a Ford Transit van. It is the van in the photograph at the top of this page.
Because the platform is part of the van, it drives to the job on the road like any other van. There is no low-loader to book, no delivery lorry to get down your street and no wait for a machine to be dropped off and collected again. It parks, sets up on its stabiliser legs, does the work and leaves.
That suits the jobs most people need a cherry picker for, on the upper floors, gutters, rooflines and signs of houses, shops, offices and commercial units, where the access is a road, a car park or a driveway. If your job needs more height, or the machine would have to cross soft ground or fit through a side gate, a van-mounted platform is the wrong tool, and we would rather say so when you enquire than find out on the day.
We are based in Aylesford, covering Maidstone, and work across Kent, the South East and London. Short-notice jobs are welcome.
What it gets used for
Anything that needs a safe working position at height, where a ladder is not safe enough for the job and scaffolding would be slow and costly for work that takes a day or less.
- Sign installation and replacement
- Gutter and roofline work
- Building maintenance, painting and inspections
- Tree surgery and cutting back
- Lighting installation and repairs
- Event rigging
- CCTV and security installs, which is what we use it for on our own CCTV and security system jobs
How booking works
The more we know before the day, the less can go wrong on it. These are the details that let us confirm the machine is right before anybody travels.
- Tell us the job, the address, roughly how high the work is and the date you need
- Tell us where the van can park and what is underneath the work, such as a porch, a conservatory or a sloping drive
- We confirm the machine will reach and put together a quote for the job
- On operated hire, our IPAF-trained operator arrives with the van and carries out the work
- On self-drive hire, send us a copy of your valid IPAF card before delivery
Working at height, safely and legally
A cherry picker lifts people, so the law treats it more strictly than most equipment. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, equipment used to lift people has to be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months, or to a written examination scheme. It is reasonable to ask any hire company for the current report before you book.
Operating one is a trained skill as well. IPAF, the body behind the PAL card, groups machines into categories, and a van-mounted boom like ours sits in category 1b, static boom. That is the category a self-drive operator's card needs to cover, which is why we ask to see it before delivery rather than on the day.
On operated hire none of that falls to you. Our operator is IPAF-trained and runs the machine, so you need no card and no training at your end.
Why Bespoke
Done properly, first time
Access at height, done properly. Whether it's installation work, maintenance, signage, tree work, building inspections or anywhere else a ladder won't cut it, Bespoke Access Hire gives you a safe, efficient way to get up there.
Our main service is van-mounted cherry picker hire with an operator. You tell us the job and the site, we turn up with our 12.5m Versalift on a Ford Transit and a fully IPAF-trained team member, and the work gets done. No paperwork to faff with, no operator training to organise, no risk of someone using kit they're not certified for.
Already IPAF qualified? Send us a copy of your valid IPAF card before delivery and we'll get the platform to your site ready to go. Same kit, same standards. You just run it yourself.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between operated hire and self-drive hire?
Operated hire means our IPAF-trained team arrives on site with the cherry picker and carries out the work for you. You're hiring the people and the machine together. Self-drive hire means we deliver the platform to your site and you operate it yourself; it's only available to customers who can provide a valid IPAF certificate before delivery.
Do I need an IPAF certificate to hire from Bespoke?
Only for self-drive hire. If you book operated hire, our certified operator runs the platform, so you don't need any qualifications at your end. For delivery-only hire, we'll need to see a valid IPAF card before we drop off.
What areas do you cover?
We're based in Aylesford, Kent, a few minutes from Maidstone, and cover the whole of the South East and London. Short-notice jobs welcome.
What kind of jobs are cherry pickers used for?
Anything that needs safe access at height, including signage installation, building maintenance, painting, tree surgery, gutter work, CCTV and security installs, lighting, inspections, event rigging and more. If you're not sure whether a cherry picker or scissor lift is right for your job, just ask.
How much does it cost to hire a cherry picker?
Cost depends on the platform you need, the length of hire, whether you want operated or self-drive, and the site location. Get in touch with the details of your job and we'll put together a tailored quote.
How high does your cherry picker reach?
Ours is a 12.5m Versalift. When you compare machines, check whether a height is the working height or the platform height. Working height is usually quoted as the platform floor plus about two metres, roughly the reach of a person standing in the basket, so it is the figure to measure your job against. Tell us how high the work is and what sits underneath it, and we will confirm it reaches before you book.
Do I need a licence to put a cherry picker on the road or pavement?
Usually, yes. A cherry picker standing on or working over a public road or pavement normally needs a licence from the highway authority first. Across most of Kent that is Kent County Council, whose highway licence rules cover cranes and mobile elevating work platforms. In Medway it is Medway Council, and in London it is the borough or Transport for London, depending on the road. Working entirely from a private drive or car park, without reaching over the road or pavement, does not normally need one. Tell us where the van will stand when you enquire.
How much space does it need to set up?
Room to park the van close to the work, on firm and reasonably level ground, with space around it for the stabiliser legs that steady it before the platform goes up. Soft verges, steep slopes and spots over cellars, drains or manhole covers are the usual problems, so tell us about the ground when you enquire.
Can you work in wind or rain?
Every cherry picker has a maximum wind speed set by its manufacturer, and work at height stops when the wind goes above it, so a gusty day can move a job. Rain is less of a problem than wind, though wet ground and poor visibility are part of the check before the platform goes up.
Where we work
Cherry Picker Hire by area
Guides & advice
Cherry Picker Hire guides
Cherry Picker Hire
What is Height Access Hire?
Height Access Hire is the process of hiring specialist equipment that allows people to work safely at height. This equipment is commonly used for external maintenance, roofing, inspections, lighting installation, tree work, signage, and many other jobs where ladders are not practical or safe enough.
Read guideCherry Picker Hire
What is a Cherry Picker?
A Cherry Picker is a type of access platform designed to safely lift people and equipment to height. These machines are commonly used for building maintenance, electrical work, signage installation, roofing, tree work, and many other jobs where ladders are not practical or safe.
Read guideFree estimates
Tell us about the job and we'll sort the rest
No up-selling, just simple honest advice. Domestic and commercial work across Aylesford, Maidstone, Medway, Sittingbourne, Gravesend, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Dartford, Bromley.