Surrey · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Coldharbour, Surrey
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Coldharbour.
- School fairs and sports days
- Community festivals
- Sports club events and race days
A chip van near Coldharbour
Fish and chip van for events in Coldharbour, fried fresh
Country shows and field events suit a van, as long as there’s a firm route onto the pitch. Typical bookings include food for volunteers and sports club events and race days, serving mushy peas, sausage and chips and chips.
A fête near Coldharbour might be on a field with no mains power; let us know and we will plan for it. Your quote spells out what’s included: the date, the service time and the menu, with no surprises on the day.
Who books fish and chip van for events in Coldharbour?
It keeps people on site for longer.
Big or small, the van works the same way. Typical bookings include:
- Country shows
- Church fêtes
- School fairs and sports days
- Fundraisers
Running a fête for a church like Christ Church? A chip van draws people in.
What your quote should include
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- The deadline for final numbers
- Allergen information for each item
Step by step
The van needs a level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, which we agree with you beforehand. Evening events in Coldharbour have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A photo of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for your visitors.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the serving time
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Clear the route for the van
Ask for a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and we will reply with a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Planning help
Places near Coldharbour
More for events in Coldharbour
Running an event in Coldharbour
Coldharbour is about 4 miles south of Dorking, in Surrey. We cover Coldharbour as standard, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. Coldharbour is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Coldharbour to Guildford (about 10 miles away).
If your event is in Wotton and Abinger Commons, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission for vehicles and traders. If visitors are coming by train, the closest railway station is Holmwood station, roughly 1.6 miles east of the centre. Within about a mile is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
Events anywhere in RH5 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many visitors. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Abinger Bottom (2 miles north-west), South Holmwood (2 miles north-east), Holmwood Corner (2 miles east), Friday Street (2 miles north-west) and Beare Green (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (10 miles north-west), Woking (13 miles north-west), Epsom (11 miles north), Horley (8 miles east), Redhill (9 miles north-east) and Ewell (13 miles north).
A little further out are Mesolithic Museum (2.6 miles north-west) and Abinger Castle (2.6 miles north-west). Open spaces near Coldharbour include Vann Lake and Leith Hill.
- Local pubs include Plough Inn (within half a mile north-east)
Should I sort the food myself?
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. 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 visitors instead.
Frying for a crowd at home is not a good idea: hot oil and a busy party are a bad combination. A van is designed for exactly this.
What a fish and chip van costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The number of meals
- Parking and the way in
- The length of service
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The address or venue name
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Rough numbers for adults and children
Each quote is put together for your event. Give us your date first, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
For a stall visitors will queue for, a fish and chip van is a great choice in Coldharbour. 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. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Rain does not stop the fryers
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Bookings across Surrey, including Coldharbour
Read how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
What the van needs
If a spot is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another. What matters most:
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue that doesn’t block walkways
- Somewhere firm if it rains
- Vehicle access before the gates open and after they close
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Chips
- Haddock and chips
- Curry sauce
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. A few tips:
- Have other stalls for special diets
- Agree when volunteers will eat
- Tell us expected visitor numbers
- Share any nut or allergy policies
Plan where the queue forms, especially near rides and games.
A spot near the entrance or main ring works well.
Your questions about a fish and chip van for your event in Coldharbour
Can the van park in Wotton and Abinger Commons?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them first.
Is Coldharbour close to London?
About 25 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What does the pitch need?
Tell us the pitch size and ground, and we’ll check it works.
How long will the queue be?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Give us your numbers and service window, and we’ll plan service around it.
Can the van park on grass?
Frequently, if the ground is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
What do we need to supply?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we’ll take it from there.
Do you do crew food?
We can. Tell us how many and when, and we will quote.
Do you do school fairs and sports days?
Yes, with the school’s permission for the van on site. Send us the date and the spot.
- 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