West Sussex · England
Film Set Catering in Tilgate
Bring the chip shop to your shoot in Tilgate. We park up, heat the fryers and cook to order, so nothing sits waiting in a tray.
- Period dramas on location
- Outside broadcasts
- Location filming
Fresh fish and chips in Tilgate
Film set catering in Tilgate, fried fresh
On a long job, a chip van day is a morale boost. On the menu are cod and chips, haddock and chips and sausage and chips, and typical bookings are for seaside shoots and photo shoots.
For a location shoot near Tilgate, base might be in a field or farmyard. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
- Where
- Tilgate (RH10, RH11)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
Before you choose a spot
We’ll be honest if a spot won’t work, and help find another. What matters most:
- Space in front of the hatch
- A hardstanding spot at the unit base
- A lit spot for dark mornings or evenings
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we serve
- Sausage and chips
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
Location catering around Tilgate
Tilgate is about 1 mile south-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Tilgate is well within our area, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. We serve all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We serve events right across the region, from Tilgate to Brighton (19 miles away).
Central London is about 28 miles from Tilgate, within easy reach for London-based crews. For cast and crew travelling by train, Crawley station is about 0.6 miles away.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH10 and RH11. Local streets include York Road, Nash Road and Cook Road; a shoot on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Close by, we cover shoots in Southgate (1 mile west), Crawley (1 mile north-west), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east), Maidenbower (1 mile east) and West Green (1 mile north-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Horsham (7 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (6 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find County Mall (0.7 miles north-west) and Crawley Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake.
- Schools near Tilgate include Three Bridges Junior School (0.5 miles north-west) and Thomas Bennett Community College (0.6 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Grasshopper pub (under half a mile south)
A chip van compared with other options
Compared with sandwiches on set, a chip van gives the crew a proper hot meal. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your shoot.
What you get with us
- A menu almost everyone likes
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
- Bookings across West Sussex, including Tilgate
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
Take a look at how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Takeaway run or book a van?
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
How the day works
Changes on the day are fine: we can start a little later or slow the pace. Sunset in Tilgate is about 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; for early or late service, base needs lighting.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- Show us where the van would go, and we will confirm it works.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for the crew.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
How to prepare
- Clear the route for the van
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
Getting a price
Each quote is put together for your shoot. Start with your date, and we will check availability straight away.
Read more
Food your guests will love
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s the favourite in much of the south. We batter it and fry it to order, so it’s crisp when it reaches you.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Questions from Tilgate
What’s the nearest station to Tilgate?
The closest is Crawley station, roughly 0.6 miles away.
Can the van park in Tilgate Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them first.
Do you take everything away?
The pitch is left as we found it. Bins for crew are worth planning.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. It’s worth planning some cover for the queue.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
What’s on the menu?
Chip-shop favourites: cod, haddock, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
Can you park at the unit base?
Generally, with a level spot. Locations will decide where.
Where do you take the van?
We take the van across London and the South East, West Sussex included. Find your area.
For event organisers in Tilgate
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Towns and villages near Tilgate
What else we do in Tilgate
What affects the price in Tilgate
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- How many people are eating
- Parking and the way in
- How far we travel
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We will send you a quote.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Expected numbers
- A picture of where the van would go
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- The venue or postcode
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your shoot, and we’ll check the date and send a price.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Send the unit base address and directions
- Plan bins and waste at base
- Add an allergy question to crew forms
- Put allergy details in writing
We set up at the unit base ahead of lunch, out of the way.
Cover near the hatch helps on wet days.
- 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