Surrey · England
Christmas party fish and chips in Downside, Surrey
Looking for a fish and chip van for your Christmas party in Downside? We bring the van to you and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Boxing Day and New Year gatherings
- Lights switch-on events
- End-of-year customer events
Planning an event in Downside?
Christmas party fish and chips in Downside, cooked to order
Fish and chips is food everyone enjoys, which makes it a safe choice for a mixed team. We’re often asked to cater work Christmas parties and warehouse and depot Christmas lunches, serving cod and chips, haddock and chips and gravy.
In a small place like Downside, December lanes are dark, so let us know about access and lighting. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer before you book.
How the day works
Here’s how the day usually runs: the van arrives and we set up, the oil comes up to temperature, and we serve hot from the hatch at the agreed time. At about 3:55pm in late December, it gets dark in Downside; light the path to the van.
- First, the plan: what, where and what time.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
How to prepare
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Choose a level, firm spot for the van
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We will come back with a clear quote.
Read more
A closer look at the menu
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips is the go-to for anyone who isn’t a fish fan.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Fried to order in the van, it goes out hot and crisp.
What affects the price in Downside
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, because of:
- Cod, haddock or both
- Whether a minimum applies
- Numbers
- The day of the week
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your Christmas party is.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of where the van would go
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on arrival and serving times.
What the van needs
We will be honest if a spot won’t work. The main points are:
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
- A clear area by the serving hatch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Downside
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
- Curry sauce
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
Planning for dietary needs
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Think about a gazebo or covered doorway
- Check the van can park on site
- Put allergy details in writing
- Choose a lit spot for the van
Serving early, before the drinks flow, is frequently wise.
Fairy lights around the van make it part of the decorations.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Next to a Christmas meal out, a van means no booking, no travel and no time off site. 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. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Downside hosts choose us
- Hot food handed straight over
- A van that becomes part of the event
- Rain does not stop the fryers
- Classic food your guests already know
Read our pricing or the cost guide.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Frying for a crowd at home is not a good idea: big pans of hot oil, children and garden parties do not mix. Leave the frying to a van built for it.
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.
Questions from Downside
Do you come to venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you come out to small places like Downside?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Can you come to our office Christmas party?
Yes. Tell us the date, site and numbers.
How long are you on site?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. We will agree arrival and serving times with you.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes, always. We fry to order in the van at your venue, and serve straight from the hatch.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Tell us whether there’s power or water nearby and we’ll confirm the rest.
Where do you take the van?
We cover London and the South East, Surrey included. Find your area.
Places near Downside
More for events in Downside
Downside in December: what to know
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. Anywhere in KT11, we’ll come to your venue, home or workplace. Downside is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Downside to Guildford (about 8 miles away).
Carol services and Christmas fairs at churches such as St Michael's Chapel draw people who are glad of hot food afterwards. PTA Christmas fairs, for a school such as St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School, suit a chip van. Downside is within about 6 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where winter lanes can be dark and narrow, so tell us about the route.
For Christmas parties in KT11, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many guests. Whether your Christmas party is on Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close or a nearby road, we can park up and fry there. If your venue is just outside Downside, we also cover Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). The countryside around Downside includes Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
- Local schools include Parkside School (1.2 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Public House (0.7 miles north)
- 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