Hampshire · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Hawley, Hampshire
Treat your visitors to fresh fish and chips at your event in Hawley. We park up, heat the fryers and cook to order, so every portion goes out hot.
- Community festivals
- Club open days
- Fish and chip supper nights
Planning an event in Hawley?
How it works
Changes on the day are fine: we can start a little later or slow the pace. For an evening event in Hawley, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- Show us where the van would go, and we’ll 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 your visitors.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Preparing for the day
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Keep space clear for visitors at the hatch
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A photo of the spot helps too. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
How our fish and chip van for events works in Hawley
We can trade to the public or feed your volunteers. On the menu are haddock and chips, mushy peas and chips, and we’re often booked for school fairs and sports days and church fêtes.
Events near Hawley are often volunteer-run, so a trader who brings everything is a bonus. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your event, so the batter is still crisp when it is handed over.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
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.
Deep-frying for lots of people at home is risky: big pans of hot oil, children and garden parties do not mix. Leave the frying to a van built for it.
Event catering near Hawley
Hawley is about 2 miles south of Sandhurst, in Hampshire. For an event in Hawley, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around Hawley. Hawley is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we bring the van. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 10 miles away.
If your event is in Sandhurst Memorial Park, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission for vehicles and traders. Church fêtes, at churches such as Holy Trinity Church, are a natural home for a chip van.
We serve events across GU17 and the streets around it. Local streets include London Road, Hawley Green and Fernhill Road; an event on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Hawley sits on or near the A30, which makes travel to your event easy. Other places close to Hawley we cover include Watchmoor (1 mile east), Blackwater (1 mile north-west), Frogmore (1 mile north-west), York Town (1 mile north-east) and College Town (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (15 miles west), Fleet (4 miles south-west), Aldershot (6 miles south), Alton (15 miles south-west), Bordon (15 miles south) and Hook (8 miles west).
A little further out are Staff College Museum (1.6 miles north-east) and Frimley Park Hospital (1.7 miles east). Within reach you’ll find Wildmoor Heath and Horseshoe Lake.
- Schools near Hawley include Fernhill School and Language College (0.9 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Mr Bumble pub (under half a mile north)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Royal Military Academy Library (1.3 miles north-east)
Planning the van’s spot
Plenty of places work for the van, but there are a few things to check:
- A back-up spot if the ground is soft
- Space for a queue away from paths
- Firm, level ground for the pitch
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Hawley
- Chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Curry sauce
Towns and villages near Hawley
More for events in Hawley
Events we cater in Hawley
We keep cooking in the rain.
These are some of the bookings we take in Hawley and Hampshire:
- Country shows
- School summer fairs
- Music and food festivals
- Summer fairs
School fairs, for a school like Hawley Primary School, are a natural fit for a fish and chip van.
What your quote should include
- How allergens are handled
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When final numbers are due
Looking after everyone
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Have other stalls for special diets
- Tell us about the pitch
- Tell us about any school or event allergy policies
- Share last year’s numbers if you have them
Plan where the queue forms.
Put the van near the entrance or the tea tent.
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
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.
Is a fish and chip van right for your event?
Next to a volunteer barbecue, a chip van frees your helpers. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. Keeping the menu short is typically the best value.
Why Hawley hosts choose us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- A clear quote before booking
- Bookings across Hampshire, including Hawley
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
Hawley: your questions answered
Can the van park in Sandhurst Memorial Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first.
What’s the nearest station to Hawley?
Blackwater station, in Hawley itself.
What about visitors who do not eat fish?
Sausage and chips and pie and chips are on the menu. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
What’s on the menu?
Proper fish and chips, plus sausage or pie and chips. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Do you trade at schools?
We do. We will need a safe route onto the site away from children.
How much does a fish and chip van for your event cost in Hawley?
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers and timings. Tell us your date and rough numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
Who clears up?
We clear the van’s area after service. Let us know about bins for visitors.
How long does set-up take?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We agree arrival, serving and finishing times with you before the day.
A closer look at the menu
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food.
- 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