East Sussex · England
Film and TV set catering in Rye, East Sussex
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew turns food into part of your shoot in Rye.
- Ad shoots
- Event crews
- Unit base lunches
Planning an event in Rye?
How our film set catering works in Rye
We need a level, firm spot at base, and a route the van can manage. On the menu are cod and chips, mushy peas and pie and chips, and we’re regularly asked to cater crew lunches at base and wrap celebrations.
Around Rye, locations can be rural. Let us know about access. We cook inside the van, right where your crew are, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
- Where
- Rye (TN31)
- County
- East Sussex
- From the fryer
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
Questions from Rye
Could you trade in Rye Harbour LNR?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, of course. Wind doesn’t affect the fryers, but plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
How long will the queue be?
Keeping choices simple and sending people up in groups helps. We will talk it through when we quote.
Can you cater for 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.
Can you feed visitors on set?
Yes, if they’re in your numbers. Tell us the day before.
What if we only have street parking?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
Where do you take the van?
We take the van across London and the South East, East Sussex included. See all areas.
Do you cover Rye?
We do. Rye is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up and bring the oil up to temperature. Crew generally gather round the hatch once service starts. In December, daylight in Rye ends around 3:55pm, so the unit base needs lighting for late service. Summer shoots have daylight until about 9:15pm.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance, and how it gets in.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
How to prepare
- Clear the route for the van
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
Getting a price
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
More for events in Rye
Takeaway run or book a van?
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is normally simpler.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van cooks in front of your crew instead.
What comes out of the fryer
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it goes out hot and crisp.
Is a fish and chip van right for your shoot?
Some locations have nowhere to buy food. The van solves that. There is no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A short service and a long afternoon’s trading are very different bookings. We set everything out in your quote.
What you get with us
- Quick service from the hatch
- A quote that spells everything out
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
See our pricing and our guide to van hire costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Ask for dietary needs on the crew info form
- Arrange something for anyone with needs we can’t meet
- Tell us about coeliac crew specifically
Lunch is planned around the call sheet, and a contact keeps us updated.
A dining area at base helps.
Planning the van’s spot
The van has to be able to get in and park safely, and a little planning goes a long way. Here’s what we look for:
- Light near the van if needed
- A route in the van can manage, with no low branches or tight lanes
- Space in front of the hatch
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Crew lunches
Events we cater in Rye
Productions book a chip van because crews love it.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. People in Rye book the van for occasions like:
- Location filming
- Commercials and music videos
- Live events and broadcasts
- Period dramas on location
For crew arriving by train, there’s a station right in Rye: Rye station.
What your quote should include
- How many hours the van serves
- When final numbers are due
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Whether there’s a minimum
For planners, venues and organisers
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Sending people up in groups helps.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
Location catering around Rye
Rye is about 9 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. For shoots in Rye, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. We take the van to 289 places across East Sussex. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 27 miles away.
Central London is about 52 miles from Rye, within easy reach for London-based crews. The A259 and A268 give trucks and the van a straightforward route to Rye. With the sea within about a mile, coastal shoots need a sheltered base.
Shoots anywhere in TN31 start with a parking spot for the van. Streets in the area include Market Road, High Street and Market Street, and the van can serve a shoot on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Main roads around Rye include the A259 and A268, so getting the van to your shoot is simple. If your venue is just outside Rye, we also cover Playden (1 mile north), East Guldeford (1 mile north-east), Rye Harbour (1 mile south-east), Houghton Green (1 mile north) and Rye Foreign (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also take the van to Hastings (9 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (14 miles south-west), St Leonards (10 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (9 miles south-west), Belmont (9 miles south-west) and Hollington (10 miles south-west).
A little further out are Ypres Tower (within half a mile east) and Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (less than half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Rye College (less than half a mile north)
- Local pubs include The Old Bell Inn (within half a mile south-west)
- 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