Brighton and Hove · England
Film and TV set catering in Preston, Brighton and Hove
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew makes the food a highlight of your shoot in Preston.
- Crew morale days
- Stills shoots
- Event crews
Book the van in Preston
What affects the price in Preston
We’ll give you a clear quote. What affects it most:
- The date and time of year
- Service time
- Numbers
- Distance and any road charges
Larger groups usually cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Where the event is
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and you will get a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Film set catering for your shoot in Preston
A van can get a crew fed quickly within the lunch break, with no kitchen needed on site. Popular choices include pie and chips, sausage and chips and cod and chips, and typical bookings are for live events and broadcasts and location filming.
Near Preston, base may be a field or yard. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
- Area
- Preston (BN1, BN3, BN88)
- Area hub
- Brighton and Hove
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Sides
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Should I sort the food myself?
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is usually the easier option.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and you get to enjoy the day.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Long shoots generally need a full catering unit. A van is great for short jobs and crew treats. Most vans have a minimum charge, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. We will tell you up front.
What you get with us
- Events in Preston and across Brighton and Hove
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- A van that becomes part of the event
- A quote that spells everything out
See how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Planning a shoot in Preston
Preston is about 1 mile north-west of Brighton, in Brighton and Hove. People in Preston book us for all sorts of reasons, but the plan is always the same: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. We take the van to 30 places across Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
Among the historic houses close to Preston are Preston Manor & Gardens (within half a mile south) and Royal Pavilion (1.7 miles south). Period locations like these usually keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early. Preston is about 45 miles from central London. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Preston, and locations in protected landscapes frequently have rules about vehicles. With the sea within about 2 miles, coastal shoots need a sheltered base.
Anywhere in BN1, BN3 and BN88, we can fry fresh for your crew. Whether your shoot is on Home Road, Bates Road and Loder Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the van to you. You will find Preston on the A23, so it is easy for us to reach with the van. If your venue is just outside Preston, we also cover Withdean (1 mile north), Prestonville (1 mile south), Hollingdean (1 mile east), Seven Dials (1 mile south) and West Hill (1 mile south). Further out, we also take the van to Saltdean (6 miles south-east), East Saltdean (6 miles south-east), Roedean (3 miles south-east), Rottingdean (4 miles south-east) and Ovingdean (4 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Churchill Square (1.5 miles south) and Brighton Transport Museum (0.5 miles south). Open spaces near Preston include Newmarket Hill and Ladies Mile.
- Schools near Preston include Dorothy Stringer High School (under half a mile north-east) and Varndean College (0.5 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Crown and Anchor Inn (less than half a mile south-west)
Where the van can park in Preston
We’ll agree the van’s spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A level, firm spot at the unit base
- A clear route to base
- Permission for the van at base
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we serve
- Haddock and chips
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Preston? Fish and chips is a reliable crowd-pleaser. Tell us about the event and we’ll take it from there.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Preston questions
Can the van go to venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Could you trade in Preston Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
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.
Can you park at the unit base?
Yes, on level ground at base.
What does it cost to hire the van?
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you need. Tell us your date and rough numbers for a clear quote.
Can you adjust to schedule changes?
Schedules move, and we plan for it. A contact on the day is all we need.
Do you do wrap parties?
Yes, and crews love it. Send us the date and place.
How fast is service?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Nearby places to Preston
Also in Preston
Step by step
There is very little for you to do on the day: point us to the spot and get on with your shoot. We handle the cooking and serving. On a winter shoot near Preston, the light goes by about 3:55pm, so the unit base needs lighting for late service. Summer shoots have daylight until about 9:20pm.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for the crew.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Why choose film set catering in Preston?
It’s self-contained, just a spot at the unit base.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Preston book the van for events such as:
- Shoots on location
- Crew treats on long shoot days
- Outside broadcasts
- Ad shoots
For crew arriving by train, Preston Park station is in Preston itself.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- How allergens are handled
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
The menu, dish by dish
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Sausage and chips
For anyone who doesn’t fancy fish, there is sausage and chips, and it’s a favourite with children.
- 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