Isle of Wight · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Gurnard, Isle of Wight
We bring a fish and chip van for your event to Gurnard and nearby, frying fresh at your venue.
- Church fêtes
- Country shows
- Summer fairs
A chip van near Gurnard
How our fish and chip van for events works in Gurnard
Organisers can book us as a trader, or to feed crew and volunteers. On the menu are haddock and chips, mushy peas and cod and chips, and we are regularly asked to cater school summer fairs and music and food festivals.
At a fête or show near Gurnard, we can bring hot food to a field. Tell us about the ground and the way in. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your event, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
- Where
- Gurnard (PO31)
- Area hub
- Isle of Wight
- On the menu
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Planning the van’s spot
We will be honest if a spot won’t work, and help find another. What matters most:
- Agreement from the site for a catering van
- A hard-standing or firm grass pitch
- A wet-weather pitch on hard standing
For somewhere as remote as Gurnard, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Gurnard
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Chips
- Curry sauce
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
Gurnard questions
Can you serve near the sea around Gurnard?
Yes, of course. Wind doesn’t affect the fryers, but plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
Do you come out to small places like Gurnard?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
No, not as standard: batter is typically made with wheat flour. Tell us about any coeliac visitors and we’ll explain the options.
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.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Everything is cooked in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. Everything is fried fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
Can the van come to our fair?
Often, yes. Send us the date, location and expected numbers.
How fast is service?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. We’ll talk it through when we quote.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
At bigger events, a chip van works alongside other traders and spreads the queues. Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. We will send you a quote.
Why us?
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- We cover Gurnard and the whole of the Isle of Wight
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
Perfect for your event in Gurnard
Almost every visitor likes fish and chips, from families to older visitors.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Feeding event crew
- Sports tournaments
- Agricultural and country shows
- School fairs and sports days
A school like Gurnard Primary School can book the van for a fair, fun run or sports day.
Before booking anyone
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- The deposit and payment dates
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- Whether travel is included
Gurnard events: pitches and permissions
Gurnard is about 1 mile west of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. Give us the address of your event in Gurnard, and we’ll plan the route and the parking spot. Gurnard is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Gurnard to Southampton (12 miles away).
Church fêtes, at churches such as All Saints' Church, are a natural home for a chip van. With the sea within about a mile, we plan shelter from the wind for coastal events.
For events in PO31, we just need to know where the van can park and a serving time. Whether your event is on Cow Lane, The Avenue and Shore Road or a nearby road, we can park up and fry there. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Cowes (1 mile east), Northwood (1 mile south), Rew Street (1 mile south-west), Great Thorness (2 miles south-west) and Noke Common (2 miles south). We also serve nearby towns such as Newport (4 miles south), Ryde (7 miles east), Sandown (10 miles south-east), Shanklin (11 miles south-east), Ventnor (12 miles south-east) and Oakfield (8 miles east). Some remote sites need extra planning, so ask early about your event.
Other landmarks nearby include St Mary's Hospital (3.2 miles south) and Isle of Wight Natural History Centre (0.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Gurnard includes Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Cowes Enterprise College (0.8 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Portland Inn (within half a mile south-east)
Also near Gurnard
What else we do in Gurnard
Takeaway run or book a van?
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 solves that by cooking on site.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
About the food
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Pie and chips
Pie and chips is hearty and filling, and it is especially welcome on a cold day.
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on arrival and serving times.
Many venues set rules for catering vans: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work through them with you.
How it works
The first sign we have arrived is typically the smell. From then on, people come up as they’re ready. Summer fêtes in Gurnard have long light evenings, with sunset about 9:20pm at midsummer, but by late September the light goes at about 7:10pm.
- Tell us what you are 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.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Gurnard, and we will check the date and send a price.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a few visitors with dietary needs. To look after them:
- Let us know about allergy rules on site
- Offer a choice of traders where you can
- Set a time for helpers’ food
- Send us the pitch size and ground conditions
Bins near the van help keep the site tidy.
Pre-selling meal tickets helps us plan.
- 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