West Sussex · England
Fish and Chip Van for Events in Balcombe
Bring the chip shop to your event in Balcombe. The van arrives, the fryers go on and everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits waiting in a tray.
- Village fêtes
- Festivals
- Food for volunteers
Planning an event in Balcombe?
Fish and chip van for events in Balcombe, fried fresh
A chip van suits school fairs and sports days, with the school’s permission for the van on site. For horse and dog shows and feeding event crew, we can cook chips, cod and chips and mushy peas.
Rural events near Balcombe can be a long way from anywhere to eat, so fish and chips goes down well. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is a first dance, a lunch break or a service time.
- Where
- Balcombe (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Sides
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Balcombe events: pitches and permissions
Balcombe is about 4 miles north of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. For an event in Balcombe, we can park on a drive, a car park, a yard or firm, dry grass. Balcombe is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. Our bookings stretch from Balcombe to Brighton (about 15 miles away).
A summer fête at The Parish Church of St Mary is the classic setting for a fish and chip van. PTAs at schools such as Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School often want one reliable hot-food stall. Within about 8 miles is the High Weald National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
For events in RH17, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many visitors. From London Road, Stockcroft Road and Deanland Road or a nearby road, we will bring the van to you. Being close to the B2036, Balcombe is simple for us to get to with the van. For events just outside Balcombe, we cover Balcombe Lane (1 mile north), Brook Street (2 miles south), Staplefield (2 miles south-west), Worth Abbey (3 miles north) and Whitemans Green (3 miles south). Further out, we also take the van to Crawley (5 miles north-west), Horsham (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south), Burgess Hill (7 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Princess Royal Hospital (4.9 miles south) and Cuckfield Museum (3.5 miles south). Open spaces near Balcombe include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.
Nearby places to Balcombe
More for events in Balcombe
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. Ask us for a quote and compare.
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
For event organisers in Balcombe
Many venues set rules for catering vans: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will work through them with you.
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a fête committee, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Food your guests will love
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. We batter it and fry it to order, so it is crisp when it reaches you.
Common questions in Balcombe
Can the van go to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do you come out to small places like Balcombe?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Can you serve children?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
Do you do crew food?
Yes, alongside public trading or on its own.
What’s on the menu?
Fish and chips, of course, plus sausage or pie and chips. The sides are mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can the van come to Balcombe?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Balcombe is within our area. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
What if we only have street parking?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
Prices and what affects them
Fish and chip van pricing is simple once we know the basics:
- Any minimum charge
- The date and time of year
- How many people are eating
- Access and parking
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Expected numbers
- The date and time of the event
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- Where the van would park
We only need a few details to quote: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
What happens on the day
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. Summer events in Balcombe have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, so evening trading typically finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter events, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- We come back with availability and a clear 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.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Balcombe, and we’ll come back with availability and a quote.
Planning help
A chip van compared with other options
Next to a volunteer barbecue, a chip van frees your helpers. Most vans have a minimum charge, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. Ask us what applies to your event.
Why Balcombe hosts choose us
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- We cover Balcombe and the whole of West Sussex
Perfect for your event in Balcombe
It needs little from volunteers.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Feeding event crew
- Village fêtes
- Church fêtes
- Sports days
If visitors are coming by train, Balcombe has its own station, Balcombe station.
Before you book anyone
- The service time, and the cost of running over
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- A clear list of what’s included
Planning the van’s spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where the van parks. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- A queue area clear of rides and games
- A hard-standing or firm grass pitch
- A back-up spot if the ground is soft
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Balcombe
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Curry sauce
- Cod and chips
- Chips
- Sausage and chips
- 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