Surrey · England
Care Home Fish and Chips in Dorking
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: a fish and chip van visit in Dorking and the surrounding area.
- A monthly fish and chip day
- Summer fêtes and open days
- Lunch clubs
Fresh fish and chips in Dorking
How our care home fish and chips works in Dorking
It gives the kitchen and care staff a change, and something to look forward to. Popular choices include cod and chips, pie and chips and gravy, and we are regularly asked to cater themed afternoons and day centres and lunch clubs.
In Dorking, a garden visit on a sunny day works beautifully, if the van can park nearby. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
Diets, allergies and planning
Tell us about dietary needs and allergies early, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer. To make it work smoothly:
- Plan IDDSI-level meals with your own team
- Include staff and visitors in your numbers
- Pick a time that suits the home’s day
- Tell us about residents’ needs in writing
Staff carry plates to residents who can’t come outside.
A regular date gives everyone something to look forward to.
Is a fish and chip van right for your care home visit?
Entertainers and activities are great; a van visit is both. Fish and chip van prices depend on the booking. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. We set everything out in your quote.
Why book with us
- A clear quote before booking
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- A menu almost everyone likes
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
Take a look at how we price and what a fish and chip van costs.
Your questions about a fish and chip van visit in Dorking
Is Dorking close to London?
About 21 miles from central London.
What’s the nearest station to Dorking?
The closest is Dorking Deepdene station, roughly 0.6 miles away.
What about residents on soft diets?
Your care team knows each resident’s needs. Tell us about any diets and we’ll explain what we can offer; texture-modified meals should be prepared or advised on by your own team.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac residents when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. Timings are agreed in advance so food is ready when you want it.
Is there a non-fish option?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we’ll tell you what we can offer.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Residents will appreciate cover near the hatch.
How fast is service?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. We will talk it through when we quote.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Where the van can park in Dorking
The van has to be able to get in and park safely, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- Firm, level ground close to the home
- Somewhere residents can reach safely, or see from inside
- Not right beside residents’ rooms
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
From the hatch
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
Events we cater in Dorking
It brings families in, which residents love.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Summer fêtes and open days
- Day centres and lunch clubs
- Care staff treats
- Seaside days
A care home summer fair, perhaps with a church like Church of St Paul, is a good occasion for a van visit.
Comparing caterers
- How much space the van takes up
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- A clear list of what’s included
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, park the van and get the fryers going. Residents typically gather round the hatch once service starts. For a summer visit in Dorking, residents can enjoy the garden in daylight until about 9:20pm, so an early-evening garden visit works well. In winter, dark by about 3:55pm, a lunchtime visit is better.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
Get a quote
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
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.
Towns and villages near Dorking
What else we do in Dorking
Care home visits in Dorking
Dorking is about 10 miles north-west of Crawley, in Surrey. In and around Dorking, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field. Dorking is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we bring the van. Our bookings stretch from Dorking to Guildford (about 11 miles away).
For families visiting by train, Dorking Deepdene station, about 0.6 miles north, is the nearest station. Box Hill is close by, a good starting point for a chat about days out. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Dorking.
This part of Surrey takes in RH4 and RH5, so your care home visit can be anywhere in it. Local streets include High Street, Station Road and London Road; a care home visit on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Dorking is on the A24 and A25, which makes the journey straightforward. For care home visits just outside Dorking, we cover Pixham (1 mile north-east), North Holmwood (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north), Westcott (2 miles west) and Blackbrook (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (11 miles west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north), Horley (8 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Mesolithic Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Headley Court (4.8 miles north-east). Within reach you will find Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
- Local schools include The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north) and The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Wheatsheaf Public House (under half a mile north-west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Pippbrook House (0.5 miles north)
A closer look at the menu
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it is what most people in the south ask for. We batter it and fry it to order.
Pie and chips
Pie and chips is hearty and filling, and it is a favourite in colder months.
- 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