West Sussex · England
Care Home Fish and Chips in Colgate
From the first sizzle in the fryer to the last chip, a fish and chip van visit turns food into part of your care home visit in Colgate.
- Lunch clubs
- Residents’ birthdays and anniversaries
- Seaside days
A chip van near Colgate
How our care home fish and chips works in Colgate
Residents can watch from the window or come out to the hatch, and families can join in. We’re frequently asked to cater sheltered housing get-togethers and family days, serving sausage and chips, cod and chips and haddock and chips.
Rural care homes near Colgate can feel a long way from the seaside, so a van visit is a big occasion. Food is served straight from the hatch, so it’s hot and generous, and the queue keeps moving.
- Where
- Colgate (RH13, RH12)
- Region
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- Sides
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. We suggest:
- Involve the kitchen and care team early
- Let us know if smaller portions suit
- Tell us about residents’ needs in writing
- Choose a spot away from ambulance routes
Afterwards we pack up quietly.
A bit of music from residents’ younger days helps.
Nearby places to Colgate
Other occasions in Colgate
Who books care home fish and chips in Colgate?
It is easy to arrange.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. People in Colgate book the van for occasions like:
- Themed afternoons
- A monthly fish and chip day
- Care home summer fairs
- Residents’ birthdays and anniversaries
Families coming by rail can use the station: Faygate station, about 1.3 miles north-west, is the nearest station.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether travel is included
- When payment is due
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- What the van needs: space, access, power
Working with your venue
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
For repeat bookings, such as regular staff lunches or annual fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
What happens on the day
We need a level, firm place to park the van, near your residents, which we agree with you beforehand. Garden visits in Colgate work best between late spring and early autumn, with sunset about 8:50pm in late May and 7:05pm in late September.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- Show us where the van would go, and we will confirm it works.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for residents.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Preparing for the day
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Prices and what affects them
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Any minimum charge
- Service time
- How many people are eating
- Your choice of menu
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
- Allergies and diets you know about
Still finalising the details? No problem: give us a rough idea and the date, and we will quote on that. To start, fill in our quote form.
Care homes around Colgate
Colgate is about 3 miles south-west of Crawley, in West Sussex. We take a fish and chip van visit to homes, halls, workplaces and venues in Colgate and the surrounding area. Colgate is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. We serve events right across the region, from Colgate to Brighton (18 miles away).
Old photos of Tilgate Lake can spark conversation during a van visit. Some homes in Colgate have links with a local church such as St. Saviour's Church, and a van visit can be part of a summer fête.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH13 and RH12, and we can serve your care home visit anywhere in it. Local streets include Forest Road, Vicarage Close and Blackhouse Road; a care home visit on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Other places close to Colgate we cover include Kilnwood Vale (1 mile north), Faygate (1 mile north-west), Broadfield (2 miles north-east), Roffey (2 miles west) and Handcross (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (3 miles north-east), Horsham (4 miles west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles south-east), East Grinstead (11 miles east) and Storrington (14 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Crawley Museum (3.4 miles north-east) and County Mall (3.4 miles north-east). The countryside around Colgate includes Tilgate Lake and Warnham LNR.
- Local schools include Cottesmore School (1.3 miles east) and Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School (2.2 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Dragon pub (less than half a mile west)
About the food
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce and it’s on the menu.
Gravy
Gravy brings a bit of warmth to the meal.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Where the van can park in Colgate
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We need:
- Not right beside residents’ rooms
- Clear of ambulance access and emergency routes
- Light near the van after dark
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
From the hatch
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
Common questions in Colgate
Which station is closest to Colgate?
The closest is Faygate station, roughly 1.3 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Colgate?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What do you bring?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Are visitors included?
Yes. Add them to your numbers.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Colgate.
Do we need to provide anything?
A suitable spot for the van and permission to park there. Mention any power or water available and we’ll confirm the rest.
What if the weather’s bad?
We carry on in the rain, because the fryers are inside. Soft ground after heavy rain is the bigger issue, so have a hard-surface spot in mind.
Do you take everything away?
We clear the van’s area after service. Tell us where bins can go for people’s paper and trays.
- Fried fresh to order in the van at your event
- Cod, haddock and chips, sausages and pies
- The van comes to you: homes, venues, workplaces and fields
- Served at the time you choose, from the hatch