West Sussex · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire in Colwood
Something for almost everyone: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Fish and chip van hire in Colwood.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Evening wedding food
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Fresh fish and chips in Colwood
How our fish and chip van hire works in Colwood
Few meals are as universally loved as fish and chips. It’s why a chip van suits so many occasions in Colwood. Popular choices include gravy, pie and chips and haddock and chips, and we are often booked for milestone birthday parties and christmas parties.
In a small place like Colwood, the van often parks on a farm track, a field or a drive. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and firm ground matters more than anything. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
- Area
- Colwood (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Should I sort the food myself?
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.
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 solves that by cooking on site.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, a facilities manager or an organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll work through them with you.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Arrange an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
- Put allergy details in writing
- Keep the menu short to keep the queue moving
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Fish and chips is best eaten right away, so we fry to order as the queue moves.
Bunting or festoon lights around the van make it part of the decorations.
Questions from Colwood
How far is Colwood from London?
About 35 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can the van park in Leonardslee?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
Can the van park on grass?
It depends on the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and send a picture if you can.
Which fish do you use?
Tell us your preference when you book and we will confirm what we can offer.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
The price depends on numbers, menu, service time and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Does a chip van work for big events?
Frequently, yes. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we will plan it with you.
What happens if it rains?
We cook inside the van, so rain does not stop us. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
How long are you on site?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. We’ll agree arrival and serving times with you.
How it works
Nothing gathers a crowd like the smell of fish and chips. Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, with chips cooked in batches as the queue moves. Evenings in Colwood stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the queue and the path to the van need good lighting.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and serving time.
- You get a check on the date and the spot, and a quote.
- On the day, we park on the agreed spot and set up.
- Everything is fried fresh and handed over from the hatch.
- We pack up afterwards and leave the spot as we found it.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Share the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
How to get a price
We only need a few details to quote: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, use our quote form.
Read more
Colwood: venues, parking and local tips
Colwood is about 5 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. In and around Colwood, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field, close to your guests. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our bookings stretch from Colwood to Brighton (13 miles away).
Thinking of using Leonardslee? Parks generally need the owner’s permission, often the council’s, before a catering van can park or trade. Colwood is within about 8 miles of the South Downs National Park. Ask your venue about vehicle access.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH17, so your event can be anywhere in it. Your event could be at a house on Earwig Lane and Cross Colwood Lane or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. Nearby, we also serve events in Crabtree (1 mile north-west), Lower Beeding (2 miles north-west), Slaugham (3 miles north), Plummers Plain (3 miles north) and Monk's Gate (3 miles north-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (6 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (6 miles east), Burgess Hill (5 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (13 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (3.7 miles east). Open spaces near Colwood include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
How we price a fish and chip van
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The date and time of year
- How far we travel
- How many people are eating
- How long we serve
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and time of the event
- Allergies and diets you know about
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Roughly how many people, including children
Planning a fish and chip van in Colwood? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Sausage and chips
A sausage and chips is the chip-shop classic for younger guests and fish-dodgers.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. It’s the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
Is a fish and chip van right for your event?
A big takeaway order arrives late and lukewarm. A van fries on the spot, so the batter is still crisp. 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.
Why Colwood hosts choose us
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Hot food handed straight over
- No kitchen needed
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
Take a look at our pricing and what a fish and chip van costs.
Space, access and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Access wide and high enough for the van
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Curry sauce
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
Other occasions in Colwood
- 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