West Sussex · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in West Dean, West Sussex
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Fish and chip van for events in West Dean.
- Village fêtes
- Community festivals
- Sports tournaments
Book the van in West Dean
A closer look at the menu
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there is pie and chips, perfect with gravy.
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. It is the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
How our fish and chip van for events works in West Dean
Food is fried to order, so it is hot and crisp. We are often asked to cater club open days and agricultural and country shows, serving mushy peas, chips and curry sauce.
At a field event near West Dean, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we’ll plan around it. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
- Area
- West Dean (PO18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Sides
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
Occasions we serve in West Dean
A chip van is reliably one of the busiest pitches at any fête.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in West Dean and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Sports club events and race days
- Community open days
- Festivals
- Crew and volunteer catering
Running a fête for a church like The Parish Church of St Andrew? A chip van draws people in.
What to look for in a quote
- Any minimum charge
- Whether travel is included
- How much space the van takes up
- The service time, and the cost of running over
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Frying for a crowd at home isn’t a good idea: big pans of hot oil, children and garden parties don’t mix. Leave the frying to a van built for it.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
Fairs, fêtes and events in West Dean
West Dean is about 4 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Events in West Dean are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. West Dean is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we bring the van. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 25 miles away.
If you’re organising a summer fair or sports day for a school such as West Dean CofE Primary School, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Fishbourne station, about 4.8 miles south. Events in and around the South Downs National Park, within about 6 miles of West Dean, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
Events anywhere in PO18 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many visitors. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Singleton (1 mile east), Charlton (2 miles east), East Dean (3 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Bepton (4 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (4 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (8 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Chichester Castle (4.5 miles south) and Museum of Gardening (less than half a mile north-east). Within reach you will find Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
A chip van compared with other options
Most events have a burger van. A chip van gives visitors something different. Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so tell us exactly where your event is.
Why West Dean hosts choose us
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The length of service
- The date and time of year
- How easy the site is to reach
- Travel, tolls and road charges
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. Keeping the menu short is usually the best value.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- A photo of the parking spot
- Roughly how many people, including children
- The date and time of the event
- Allergies and diets you know about
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
The process
The van turns up at the agreed time, parks where we agreed and the hatch goes up. When the fryers are up to heat, service starts right on schedule. Summer events in West Dean have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, so evening trading normally finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter events, dark by about 4:00pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We check the date and where the van will park, then send a quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- We cook to order on the day for your visitors.
- Everything goes out hot from the hatch, and we pack up afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
Ask for a quote
Planning a fish and chip van for your event in West Dean? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Read more
West Dean questions
Do you trade at school fairs around West Dean?
Yes, if the school is happy for the van on site. Send us the date and where the van would go.
Can the van go to venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. We cook inside the van, so it is fried on the spot, rather than made in advance.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can the van come to West Dean?
Yes. We take the van across London and the South East, including West Dean and the rest of West Sussex. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
How long will the queue be?
Keeping choices simple and sending people up in groups helps. Tell us your timings and we’ll advise.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac visitors when you enquire, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
Can the van park on grass?
Usually, if it is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
Where the van can park in West Dean
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, and a little planning goes a long way. These are the things we check:
- Confirmation the van can trade there
- What’s available on the pitch
- Firm, level ground for the pitch
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we serve
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Chips
- Cod and chips
- Curry sauce
What else we do in West Dean
Looking after everyone
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Share any nut or allergy policies
- Agree how we’ll be paid: pitch fee, share of takings or minimum
- Plan something for visitors we cannot cater for
- Tell us about the pitch
We arrive before the gates open to set up on the pitch, at the agreed time.
Tables and seating nearby help families eat.
- 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