Southampton · England
Care Home Fish and Chips for St Mary's events
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: a fish and chip van visit in St Mary's and the surrounding area.
- Care staff treats
- Birthday treats for residents
- Fish and chip Fridays
Book the van in St Mary's
Care home fish and chips in St Mary's, fried fresh
It gives the kitchen and care staff a change. We serve sausage and chips, pie and chips and cod and chips, and typical bookings are for residents’ family gatherings and staff thank-you lunches at the home.
Care homes around St Mary's are often in converted houses with a drive. Tell us about access. The menu is short on purpose: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
- Location
- St Mary's (SO14, SO15, SO18)
- Region
- Southampton
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Where the van can park in St Mary's
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. In general, we need:
- With the serving side away from windows
- A level parking spot near the entrance
- A clear way in for the van
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before you book.
From the hatch
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
FAQs for St Mary's
Can the van park in Houndwell Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
Can you serve near the sea around St Mary's?
Yes. Wind does not affect the fryers, but plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
No, not as standard: batter is usually made with wheat flour. Tell us about any coeliac residents and we’ll explain the options.
Can you cook in the rain?
We carry on in the rain, because the cooking happens inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Can the van park on grass?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we will advise.
Do you offer repeat visits?
Ask us about repeat dates when you enquire.
What if we only have street parking?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Check with your council first.
Where will the van park?
In the car park or on the drive, away from ambulance routes.
Planning a van visit in St Mary's
St Mary's is about 1 mile south of Southampton, in Southampton. Tell us where your care home visit in St Mary's will be, and we’ll plan the route and the parking spot. St Mary's is one of 40 towns and villages in Southampton where we bring the van.
Old photos of Netley Common can spark conversation during a van visit. If your residents have links with St Mary's Church, a fête or open day together is a nice moment for a van visit. The New Forest National Park is within about 7 miles of St Mary's, a nice prompt for residents’ memories of days out. With the sea within about a mile, many residents will have memories of fish and chips on the seafront.
This part of Southampton takes in SO14, SO15 and SO18, so your care home visit can be anywhere in it. From New Road, Ogle Road and Marsh Lane or a nearby road, we will bring the van to you. We also bring the van to care home visits in Northam (1 mile north-east), Inner Avenue (1 mile north), Peartree Green (1 mile east), Southampton (1 mile north) and Bitterne Manor (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Chartwell Green (3 miles north-east), Harefield (3 miles east), Maybush (3 miles north-west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west) and Eling (4 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Netley Castle (2.5 miles south-east) and Bargate Guildhall Museum (less than half a mile south-west). The countryside around St Mary's includes Netley Common.
- Nearby schools include Inspire Enterprise Academy (under half a mile south-east) and Woolston School (1.4 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Joiners pub (less than half a mile south)
Looking after everyone
Nearly every event has some special diets. To look after them:
- Agree numbers for residents, staff and families
- Tell us about residents’ needs in writing
- Plan portion sizes with us
- Fit the visit around routines
Families can join in, with numbers agreed in advance.
A bit of music from residents’ younger days helps.
Should I sort the food myself?
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
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. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
How we price a fish and chip van visit
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Whether a minimum applies
- How long we serve
- Access and parking
- The date and time of year
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
What to tell us
The more we know about your care home visit, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- A photo of the parking spot
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Why choose care home fish and chips in St Mary's?
It’s food residents know and enjoy for most residents.
The van suits big events and small ones. Typical bookings include:
- Care home summer fairs
- Fish and chip Fridays
- Retirement village events
- Day centre treats
Families coming by rail can use the station: the nearest station is Southampton Central station, about 0.8 miles west.
What your quote should include
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- If the price includes VAT
- How much space the van takes up
- Payment terms and deposit
Towns and villages near St Mary's
What else we do in St Mary's
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Compared with a takeaway delivery, the van cooks on site, so food is hot when it reaches residents. There is no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- Something for residents to gather round
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Quick service from the hatch
What happens on the day
The van turns up at the agreed time, parks where we agreed and the hatch goes up. Once the oil is hot, the first portions go out at the time you asked for. In St Mary's, late spring and early autumn evenings stay light until about 8:55pm and 7:10pm; winter visits, dark by about 4:00pm, suit 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.
- Afterwards, we pack up quietly.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Clear the route for the van
- Share the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
The menu, dish by dish
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the side most people expect.
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it’s 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