Hampshire · England
Fish and Chip Van for Events in St Ives
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: a fish and chip van for your event in St Ives and the surrounding area.
- Village fêtes
- Club open days
- Crew and volunteer catering
Fish and chip van for events for St Ives events
Looking after everyone
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Make sure allergen information is available
- Agree how we’ll be paid: pitch fee, share of takings or minimum
- Tell us about any school or event allergy policies
- Offer a choice of traders where you can
We set up before visitors arrive, at the agreed time.
A sign at the entrance tells visitors hot food is available.
Fish and chip van for events in St Ives, cooked to order
A chip van suits school fairs and sports days, with the school’s permission for the van on site. We’re frequently asked to cater school summer fairs and country shows, serving chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
At a field event near St Ives, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we’ll plan around it. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Running an event in St Ives
St Ives is in Hampshire. We cover St Ives as standard, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. St Ives is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we bring the van. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 20 miles away.
A school like St Ives Primary & Nursery School can book the van for a fair, fun run or sports day. Church fêtes, at churches such as All Saints, are a natural home for a chip van. Within about 6 miles is the New Forest National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
Events anywhere in BH24 start with a parking spot for the van and a serving time. Whether your event is on Compton Beeches, Post Office Lane and Azalea Close or a nearby road, we will bring the van to you. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Ashley Heath (1 mile west), Avon Castle (1 mile south-east), St Leonards (1 mile south-west) and Matchams (1 mile south). We also serve nearby towns such as Totton (15 miles east), Lymington (13 miles south-east), New Milton (9 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (10 miles south-east), Ashley (10 miles south-east) and Milford on Sea (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are St Leonard's Hospital (1.8 miles south-west). Within reach you’ll find Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Nearby schools include Ringwood Waldorf School (0.9 miles north-east) and Ringwood School (2 miles north-east)
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Deep-frying for lots of people at home is risky: hot oil and a busy party are a bad combination. Leave the frying to a van built for it.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
What comes out of the fryer
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, great with chips and sausages.
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food.
St Ives questions
Can the van park in Avon Heath Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
Is St Ives too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
What do you bring?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
What does it cost to hire the van?
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you need. Tell us your date and rough numbers for a clear quote.
Do you do festivals?
Frequently, yes. Send us the date, location and expected numbers.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Where do you take the van?
We take the van across London and the South East, Hampshire included. See all areas.
What food do you serve?
Chip-shop favourites: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Cakes and sandwiches are popular, but hot food brings people in on cooler days. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu and timing to match. A short menu is often the best value.
Why book with us
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- No kitchen needed
- Events in St Ives and across Hampshire
Read how we price or the cost guide.
The process
We get there well before service, park the van and get the fryers going. Your visitors can wander over to the hatch as soon as we open. Summer events in St Ives have daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer and about 7:10pm by late September, so evening trading typically finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter fairs, dark by about 4:05pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Choose a level, firm spot for the van
- Keep space clear for visitors at the hatch
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Numbers
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- The minimum booking
- How far we travel
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A short service and a long afternoon’s trading are very different bookings. We set everything out in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Roughly how many people, including children
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the parking spot
Each quote is put together for your event. Give us your date first, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Where the van can park in St Ives
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, and a little planning goes a long way. Here’s what we look for:
- The landowner’s or organiser’s permission for the van
- A level, firm pitch the van can drive onto
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue that doesn’t block walkways
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Also near St Ives
More for events in St Ives
Perfect for your event in St Ives
It’s low-maintenance for organisers, because we bring what we need.
In St Ives and nearby, the van turns up at all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Horse and dog shows
- Village fêtes
- Sports tournaments
- School fairs and sports days
If your event is in Avon Heath Country Park, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission for vehicles and traders.
What your quote should include
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether travel is included
- Any minimum charge
- The van’s size and access needs
- 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