Surrey · England
Fish and Chip Van for Events in Merle Common
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: a fish and chip van for your event in Merle Common and the surrounding area.
- Agricultural and country shows
- Community open days
- Feeding event crew
Fish and chip van for events for Merle Common events
Planning the van’s spot
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We look for:
- Access that avoids crowds
- A wet-weather pitch on hard standing
- What’s available on the pitch
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
About our fish and chip van for events in Merle Common
Everything is cooked as people come up, so it’s hot and crisp. We serve chips, sausage and chips and haddock and chips, and we’re regularly asked to cater country shows and church fêtes.
At a fête or show near Merle Common, we can bring hot food to a field. Ground and access matter, so tell us about them. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
Event catering near Merle Common
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. We serve events at drives, car parks, yards and venues around Merle Common and nearby villages. Merle Common is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we bring the van. Our nearest city page is London, about 19 miles away.
For anyone arriving by train, the nearest station is Hurst Green station, about 1.4 miles north.
Here we cover the RH8 postcode area, and we can serve your event anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
- Local schools include Oxted School (2.4 miles north)
Perfect for your event in Merle Common
A chip van is reliably one of the busiest pitches.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. In Merle Common, people book us for occasions like:
- Village fêtes
- Church fêtes
- Food for volunteers
- School summer fairs
School fairs, for a school like Holland Junior School, are a natural fit for a fish and chip van.
What your quote should include
- Payment terms and deposit
- What the price includes, item by item
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the van needs: space, access, power
Why choose a fish and chip van in Merle Common?
One good hot-food van can be enough at a smaller event, with cakes and teas alongside. Most vans have a minimum charge, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your event.
What you get with us
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- A menu almost everyone likes
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
Read our pricing and what a fish and chip van costs.
Looking after everyone
We take allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Plan something for visitors we can’t cater for
- Agree who removes waste
- Agree how we’ll be paid: pitch fee, share of takings or minimum
- Make sure allergen information is available
When the event closes, we pack up.
Pre-selling meal tickets helps us plan.
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
We’ll give you a clear quote. The main things that affect it are:
- How long we serve
- The number of meals
- Whether a minimum applies
- Parking and the way in
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
- Allergies and diets you know about
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
FAQs for Merle Common
Do you trade at school fairs around Merle Common?
Yes, if the school is happy for the van on site. Send us the date and where the van would go.
How far is Merle Common from London?
About 19 miles from central London.
Is there something for children?
Yes. Children typically love sausage and chips. Tell us how many are coming.
How much does a fish and chip van for your event cost in Merle Common?
It depends on numbers, the menu, how long we serve and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
What do we need to supply?
Tell us what’s available at the site when you enquire, and we will say what we need.
What if the weather’s bad?
We carry on in the rain, because the cooking happens inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Do you do anything other than fish?
Yes: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. Timings are agreed in advance so food is ready when you want it.
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.
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is usually the easier option.
Towns and villages near Merle Common
What else we do in Merle Common
Step by step
Nothing is cooked before it is needed. Fish is battered and fried when people come up to the hatch, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. Summer fêtes in Merle Common have long light evenings, with sunset about 9:20pm at midsummer, while a late-September show is dark by about 7:05pm.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A picture 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.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the serving time
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
For event organisers in Merle Common
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Merle Common? A fish and chip van draws people in and almost everyone likes it. Give us the details and we will suggest how it could work.
- 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