West Sussex · England
Film Set Catering for Mackerel's Common events
Something for almost everyone: fish and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Film set catering in Mackerel's Common.
- Seaside and period locations
- Treat days on a long shoot
- Unit base lunches
Book the van in Mackerel's Common
What comes out of the fryer
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there is pie and chips, perfect with gravy.
Film set catering in Mackerel's Common, cooked to order
The van needs level, firm ground at the unit base, and a route the van can manage. Whether it is fashion shoots on location and live events and broadcasts, we’ll put together a menu of sausage and chips, cod and chips and haddock and chips for your guests.
Near Mackerel's Common, check tracks and ground for the van with locations. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
- Where
- Mackerel's Common (RH14)
- County
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Sides
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Mackerel's Common for film and TV crews
Mackerel's Common is about 10 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Tell us where your shoot in Mackerel's Common will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. Mackerel's Common is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we bring the van. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 14 miles away.
Historic houses near Mackerel's Common include Petworth House (4.6 miles south-west). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations. Mackerel's Common is about 37 miles from central London.
We cover shoots in every part of the RH14 postcode area and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside Mackerel's Common, we also cover 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). Within a short drive, we also cover 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).
Within reach you will find The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.
Towns and villages near Mackerel's Common
What else we do in Mackerel's Common
What the van needs
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We look for:
- Far enough from set to keep noise down
- A route in the van can manage, with no low branches or tight lanes
- A queue area clear of trucks
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we serve
- Mushy peas
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To look after them:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Give us a contact for call-time changes
- Tell us about coeliac crew specifically
- Send the unit base address and directions
We clear up quickly after lunch.
A gazebo by the van keeps the line dry.
Why choose film set catering in Mackerel's Common?
It suits short shoots without a full catering unit.
These are some of the bookings we take around Mackerel's Common:
- Stills shoots
- Period dramas on location
- Commercials and music videos
- Crew lunches at base
Crew coming by rail can use the station: the nearest station is Billingshurst station, about 4.8 miles south-east.
Before booking anyone
- When payment is due
- How much space the van takes up
- Whether there is a minimum
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
How we price a fish and chip van for the crew
Every booking is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Access and parking
- Your choice of menu
- Whether a minimum applies
- How many people are eating
Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. We’ll tell you up front.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your shoot, the better we can plan. Please include:
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where the van would go
Send us the date, the address or RH14 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time, and we’ll reply with a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Mackerel's Common? A fish and chip van draws people in and almost everyone likes it. Tell us about the event and we will take it from there.
The process
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, park on the agreed spot, and get on with frying and serving. At midsummer, Mackerel's Common has light until about 9:20pm, while by late September it is nearer 7:05pm.
- We start with the location, call times and crew numbers.
- We check access and send a quote.
- We arrange the van’s spot at the unit base with locations.
- We set up at the unit base and fry to order for the lunch break.
- We pack up straight after service and leave the base tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the timings for the day
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
Get a quote
Thinking about a fish and chip van for the crew for your shoot in Mackerel's Common? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a clear price. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Read more
DIY versus a fish and chip van
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
Your questions about a fish and chip van for the crew in Mackerel's Common
Which station is closest to Mackerel's Common?
The closest is Billingshurst station, roughly 4.8 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Mackerel's Common?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you do wrap parties?
Yes, it is a popular wrap. Tell us the details.
Can you feed visitors on set?
Yes, include them in numbers. Confirm numbers the day before.
Do you do anything other than fish?
Yes: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Tell us roughly how many to expect.
What food do you serve?
The classics: cod, haddock, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
What does the van need?
Less than you might think: a drive, a car park, a yard or a firm lawn, that the van can reach easily. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
What will the production need?
Every production asks for different things, so send us the list and we will go through it.
- 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