Hampshire · England
Film and TV set catering in Viables, Hampshire
Something for almost everyone: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Film set catering in Viables.
- Ad shoots
- Crew morale days
- Lunch at the unit base
A chip van near Viables
Film set catering in Viables, fried fresh
Everything is cooked as crew come up, so it is hot when the break is called. We’re frequently asked to cater crew lunches at base and period dramas on location, serving cod and chips, pie and chips and mushy peas.
For a location shoot near Viables, base might be in a field or farmyard, so ground conditions matter. We cook inside the van, right where your crew are, so the batter is still crisp when it is handed over.
Where the van can park in Viables
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. These are the things we check:
- A queue area clear of trucks
- Permission for the van at base
- Level, firm ground at base
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Crew lunches
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
A full location catering unit suits long shoots with three meals a day. A chip van suits short shoots and treat days. Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
Take a look at our prices page or what a fish and chip van costs.
Nearby places to Viables
What else we do in Viables
Common questions in Viables
Can the van park in Hackwood Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first.
Is Viables close to London?
About 46 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can the van come to Viables?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Viables is within our area. To check your date, use our quote form.
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.
What food do you serve?
Chip-shop favourites: cod, haddock, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Our menu has the details.
Where can the van park?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, that the van can reach easily. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Can you work to the call sheet?
Yes. Give us a contact for changes, and we’ll work around changes where we can.
What do you bring?
Everything is cooked in the van. Tell us about power, water and bins at the site.
Viables for film and TV crews
Viables is about 1 mile south-east of Basingstoke, in Hampshire. Tell us where your shoot in Viables will be, and we will plan the route and the parking spot. We take the van to all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Reading, about 15 miles away.
Central London is about 46 miles from Viables. Nearby historic houses include The Vyne (3.9 miles north). Period locations like these typically keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early.
Wherever your shoot is in RG21, RG22 and RG25, we can fry fresh for your crew. Streets in the area include Grove Road, Porter Road and Morley Road, and the van can serve a shoot on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Neighbouring places where we serve shoots include Cliddesden (1 mile south), Eastrop (1 mile north), Oakridge (1 mile north), Lychpit (2 miles north-east) and Old Basing (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Farnborough (14 miles east), Fleet (11 miles east), Aldershot (14 miles east), Alton (8 miles south-east), Yateley (13 miles north-east) and Tadley (8 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Willis Museum (0.9 miles north) and Festival Place (1.1 miles north). The countryside around Viables includes The Mill Field and Farleigh Hill.
- Schools near Viables include Queen Mary's College (within half a mile north) and The Costello School (0.9 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include Jolly Farmer Public House (0.8 miles south-west)
Food your guests will love
Mushy peas
No fish and chips is complete without mushy peas for many people.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it goes out hot and crisp.
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The minimum booking
- How many people are eating
- Cod, haddock or both
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 we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Your date and serving time
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- A picture of where the van would go
- Expected numbers
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van cooks in front of your crew instead.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
Who books film set catering in Viables?
It works in any weather, which matters on location.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Seaside and period locations
- Photo shoots
- End-of-shoot parties
- Lunch at the unit base
Crew coming by rail can use the station: the nearest station is Basingstoke station, about 1.3 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- When final numbers are due
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether there is a minimum
- How allergens are handled
How it works
Because we cook inside the van, rain doesn’t stop us. Crew will still appreciate a bit of cover near the hatch. Light in Viables lasts until about 9:25pm at midsummer; for dawn calls or late wraps, plan lighting at base.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Make sure the van can get in
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
Send us the date, the address or RG21 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time, and we’ll reply with a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Allergies and dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Give us a map or what3words for base
- Confirm numbers the day before
- Put allergy details in writing
- Flag any coeliac crew
Supporting artists and visitors can be included in numbers.
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