West Sussex · England
Care home fish and chip visits in Mackerel's Common, West Sussex
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Care home fish and chips in Mackerel's Common.
- Day centre treats
- Visiting days
- Fish and chip Fridays
Fresh fish and chips in Mackerel's Common
How our care home fish and chips works in Mackerel's Common
Staff get a break from the usual routine. Popular choices include pie and chips, haddock and chips and gravy, and we’re regularly asked to cater day centres and lunch clubs and family days.
At a rural home near Mackerel's Common, access matters. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
- Where
- Mackerel's Common (RH14)
- County
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Looking after everyone
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. Here are a few tips:
- Share residents’ diets and allergies with us
- Ask about smaller portions
- Choose a spot away from ambulance routes
- Plan it with your catering manager
We set up before the mealtime, quietly.
Old seaside postcards and photos spark conversation.
How the day works
You will know we’re ready when the smell of frying drifts over. From then on, people come up as they’re ready. In Mackerel's Common, the garden season runs from late May, with light until about 8:50pm, to late September, around 7:05pm; in winter, keep it to lunchtime.
- It starts with your date, numbers and mealtime.
- We check where the van can park and send a quote.
- Portions and diets are planned with your care team.
- We serve hot from the hatch at the time the home chooses.
- We clear up and leave the car park as we found it.
Preparing for the day
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
Ask for a quote
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we will check availability right away.
Planning help
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Taking residents out is a big undertaking. The van comes to the home. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest how to make it work. Keeping the menu short is typically the best value.
Why Mackerel's Common hosts choose us
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
- No kitchen needed
- Quick service from the hatch
Take a look at our pricing or our guide to van hire costs.
Common questions in Mackerel's Common
Do you come out to small places like Mackerel's Common?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
How far is Mackerel's Common from London?
About 37 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is the fish gluten-free?
No, not as standard: batter is normally made with wheat flour. Let us know and we will tell you what we can do before booking.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Tell us whether there’s power or water nearby and we will confirm the rest.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children normally love sausage and chips. Include children in your numbers.
Do you come to Mackerel's Common?
Yes, we do. We serve events in Mackerel's Common and across West Sussex. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
How fast is service?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Give us your numbers and service window, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Is everything cooked fresh?
It is. The fryers are in the van, so food is cooked there and then, rather than made in advance.
Who books care home fish and chips in Mackerel's Common?
It turns a meal into an activity.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Family days
- Birthday treats for residents
- Care home summer fairs
- Seaside-themed afternoons
Residents who remember days out at The Mens may enjoy talking about it over fish and chips.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- The service time, and the cost of running over
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- Any minimum charge
DIY versus a fish and chip van
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is normally simpler.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll work through them with you.
Places near Mackerel's Common
Other occasions in Mackerel's Common
How we price a fish and chip van visit
The same numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Whether a minimum applies
- The date and time of year
- Numbers
- How easy the site is to reach
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your care home visit is.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- Where the van would park
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. You can fill in our quote form.
Fish and chip days near Mackerel's Common
Mackerel's Common is about 10 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. In and around Mackerel's Common, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field. We take the van to 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We serve events right across the region, from Mackerel's Common to Guildford (14 miles away).
For families visiting by train, the closest railway station is Billingshurst station, roughly 4.8 miles south-east of the centre. Some homes in Mackerel's Common have links with a local church such as The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, and a van visit can be part of a summer fête.
Anywhere in RH14, we can bring the van to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Neighbouring places where we serve care home visits include Kirdford (1 mile south), Plaistow (2 miles north), Ifold (2 miles north), Balls Cross (2 miles south-west) and Wisborough Green (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Horsham (10 miles east), Broadfield (15 miles east), Storrington (9 miles south-east), Billingshurst (5 miles east), Bewbush (15 miles east) and Angmering (15 miles south).
Open spaces near Mackerel's Common include The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.
Planning the van’s spot
We will agree the van’s spot with you before the day. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- Not right beside residents’ rooms
- Firm, level ground close to the home
- Not blocking ambulance bays
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before booking.
What we serve
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- 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