East Sussex · England
Christmas Party Fish and Chips for Coleman's Hatch events
Something for almost everyone: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Christmas party fish and chips in Coleman's Hatch.
- Festive open days
- Club and society Christmas socials
- Christmas fairs and lights switch-ons
Planning an event in Coleman's Hatch?
How our Christmas party fish and chips works in Coleman's Hatch
December bookings are planned for the dark and the cold: a lit, sheltered spot, and service timed so people aren’t outside for long. Popular choices include pie and chips, gravy and cod and chips, and we’re regularly asked to cater christmas fairs at schools and christmas socials for clubs.
Near Coleman's Hatch, country lanes are dark in winter, so tell us about the route and lighting at the spot. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
- Area
- Coleman's Hatch (TN7)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Sides
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Planning a Christmas party in Coleman's Hatch
Coleman's Hatch is about 4 miles south-east of East Grinstead, in East Sussex. For a Christmas party in Coleman's Hatch, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around Coleman's Hatch. We cover all 289 towns and villages in East Sussex. Our bookings stretch from Coleman's Hatch to Brighton (20 miles away).
Christmas fairs at a church such as Holy Trinity Church can book the van as a hot-food stall. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Coleman's Hatch; in winter, rural routes need a bit more planning.
Christmas parties anywhere in TN7 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many guests. Streets in the area include Shepherds Hill and Parrock Lane, and the van can serve a Christmas party on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Nearby, we also serve Christmas parties in Upper Hartfield (1 mile north-east), Forest Row (1 mile west), Wych Cross (2 miles south-west), Chelwood Gate (3 miles south-west) and Duddleswell (3 miles south). Further out, we also take the van to Lewes (15 miles south), Crowborough (5 miles south-east), Uckfield (8 miles south), South Malling (15 miles south), Heathfield (12 miles south-east) and Southover (15 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Queen Victoria Hospital (4.4 miles north-west) and Bolebroke Castle (2.9 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Brickfield Meadow.
- Pubs nearby include The Hatch Inn (less than half a mile south-east)
A chip van compared with other options
A cold buffet in December is not much of a treat. Hot food from the van does. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your Christmas party.
Why Coleman's Hatch hosts choose us
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- No kitchen needed
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
Take a look at our prices page and the cost guide.
Step by step
We do not cook ahead. Fish is battered and fried when people come up to the hatch, so it’s as fresh as from any chip shop. An afternoon Christmas party in Coleman's Hatch can start in daylight and finish in the dark, with sunset about 3:55pm; light the path to the van.
- Send us your December date, venue, numbers and serving time.
- You get an access check and a clear quote.
- We plan a lit, sheltered spot for the van and queue.
- On the day we set up and fry fresh at the agreed time.
- We pack up when service ends and leave the pitch tidy.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
Getting a price
Planning a fish and chip van for your Christmas party in Coleman's Hatch? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in Coleman's Hatch
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and nobody has to miss the Christmas party.
Places near Coleman's Hatch
More for events in Coleman's Hatch
Allergies and dietary needs
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Agree the spot with the venue
- Send round an allergy question
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Plan an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
Serving early, before the drinks flow, is often wise.
Fairy lights around the van make it part of the decorations.
How we price a fish and chip van for your Christmas party
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Any minimum charge
- How easy the site is to reach
- The menu and how many choices
- How long we serve
A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Roughly how many people, including children
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- A picture of where the van would go
- Allergies and diets you know about
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your Christmas party, and we’ll come back with availability and a quote.
Common questions in Coleman's Hatch
Which station is closest to Coleman's Hatch?
East Grinstead station, about 4.6 miles north-west of the centre.
Can the van go to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers, and we will include them in the plan.
How do you handle allergies?
We provide allergen information for everything we serve. Fish and gluten are the main ones in battered fish. Send us any allergies in writing.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can you cook in the rain?
We carry on in the rain, because the fryers are inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, then handed over hot from the hatch.
Will the weather be a problem?
Not for the cooking. Plan cover and lighting for the queue.
Who books Christmas party fish and chips in Coleman's Hatch?
It suits shift teams who can’t all go out together.
Here are some of the occasions we serve:
- Lights switch-on events
- Christmas lunches for shift teams
- Family Christmas get-togethers
- Office Christmas parties
If people are coming by rail, East Grinstead station, about 4.6 miles north-west, is the nearest station.
Before you book anyone
- How many hours the van serves
- When payment is due
- If the price includes VAT
- What the price includes, item by item
A closer look at the menu
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the side most people expect.
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce and it is on the menu.
- 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