Surrey · England
Film and TV set catering in Downside, Surrey
Film set catering in Downside: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, and served hot from the hatch.
- Live events and broadcasts
- Lunch at the unit base
- Crew treats on long shoot days
Book the van in Downside
Film set catering in Downside, cooked to order
Call times change, so a contact on the day helps and we will adjust where we can. We’re often asked to cater location shoots and live events and broadcasts, serving sausage and chips, pie and chips and haddock and chips.
Near Downside, check tracks and ground for the van with locations. We cook inside the van, right where your crew are, so the batter is still crisp when it is handed over.
Perfect for your shoot in Downside
It is quick to serve within a lunch break.
These are some of the bookings we take in Downside and Surrey:
- Commercials and music videos
- Stills shoots
- Wrap celebrations
- Crew lunches at base
Central London is about 19 miles from Downside.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether there is a minimum
- When payment is due
- If the price includes VAT
- Travel, tolls and road charges
Other occasions in Downside
What affects the price in Downside
Every booking is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long we serve
- Numbers
- Parking and the way in
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. We will tell you up front.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your shoot, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- The venue or postcode
- Where the van would park
It’s 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.
Planning the van’s spot
We will agree the van’s spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Agreement from the location manager and landowner
- A queue area clear of trucks
- Far enough from set to keep noise down
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we serve
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Crew lunches
Crew catering near Downside
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. Across the KT11 area, we will come to your venue, home or workplace. We take the van to all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. Our bookings stretch from Downside to Guildford (about 8 miles away).
Historic houses near Downside include Byfleet Manor (2.7 miles north-west) and The Homewood (2.8 miles north). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations. For cast and crew travelling by train, the nearest station is Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, about 1 mile north-east. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Downside, so check vehicle rules with locations.
For shoots in KT11, we just need to know where the van can park. Whether your shoot is on Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close or a nearby road, we’ll bring the van to you. For shoots just outside Downside, we 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). We also serve nearby towns such as 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).
A little further out are 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)
- Nearby, you will find The Plough Public House (0.7 miles north)
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Collect diets and allergies with crew details
- Have a back-up for special diets
- Ensure we can reach locations on the day
We clear up quickly after lunch.
Cover near the hatch helps on wet days.
The process
Serving is straightforward: everything is handed over hot from the hatch. Afterwards we pack up. At midsummer, Downside has light until about 9:20pm, while by late September it is nearer 7:05pm.
- First, the plan: what, where and what time.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- The pitch is left tidy when we go.
How to prepare
- Ensure the van can get in
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Get permission for the van from the venue
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A picture of the spot helps too. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll work through them with you.
Downside: your questions answered
How far is Downside from London?
About 19 miles from central London.
Is Downside too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What food do you serve?
Proper fish and chips, plus sausage or pie and chips. The sides are mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy.
Do you take everything away?
We pack up and leave the pitch tidy when service is finished. Tell us where bins can go for people’s paper and trays.
Do you have allergen information?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Fish and gluten are the main ones in battered fish. Send us any allergies in writing.
What if we only have street parking?
Only where it’s legal to park, or with a council parking suspension or road closure. Check with your council first.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are very welcome. Let us know numbers, and we will include them in the plan.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Tell us about coeliac crew when you enquire, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible.
Why choose a fish and chip van in Downside?
Wrap parties add up. A van makes a relaxed wrap. Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so tell us exactly where your shoot is.
Why book with us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- We cover Downside and the whole of Surrey
- Hot food handed straight over
- No surprises in your quote
See our prices page and the cost guide.
About the food
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it is the favourite in much of the south. It is battered and fried to order.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the classic side with fish 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