Surrey · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire for Downside events
Bring the chip shop to your event in Downside. We park up, heat the fryers and cook to order, so every portion goes out hot.
- Wakes and gatherings after a funeral
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
Planning an event in Downside?
Your questions about a fish and chip van in Downside
Can the van go to venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Downside?
Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, about 1 mile north-east of the centre.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack up and leave the pitch tidy when service is finished. Tell us where bins can go for people’s paper and trays.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Often, yes. Give us your numbers and service time, and we will tell you honestly how service will work.
Can you cater for allergies?
Let us know about allergies in advance, and we’ll tell you what’s in each item.
How long will the queue be?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. Tell us your timings and we will advise.
Do you fry it on site?
It is. We cook inside the van, so it’s fried on the spot, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Is there something for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers, and we’ll include them in the plan.
About our fish and chip van hire in Downside
There’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. It needs a level, firm spot to park and a clear way in, which suits drives, yards, car parks and firm lawns. Popular choices include cod and chips, pie and chips and haddock and chips, and we are frequently booked for staff lunches and team days and summer garden parties.
In a rural place like Downside, fish and chips in a field feels just right. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, not cooked earlier and kept warm, and served the moment it comes out of the fryer.
Occasions we serve in Downside
On a grey day, hot fish and chips wins, and the van keeps frying whatever the weather.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Evening wedding food
- Village fêtes and school fairs
- Visits to care homes and day centres
- Company team days
If guests are travelling by rail, the nearest station is Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station, about 1 mile north-east.
Comparing caterers
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- Any minimum charge
- VAT, if it applies
- How many hours the van serves
Takeaway run or book a van?
Frying for a crowd at home is not a good idea: 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 is hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
A chip van compared with other options
With a barbecue, somebody ends up cooking all afternoon. With a van, the host gets to enjoy the day. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Downside hosts choose us
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- No surprises in your quote
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
See our pricing and the cost guide.
Allergies and dietary needs
Most events have a few guests with dietary needs. To look after them:
- Ask about allergies on your invitation or sign-up form
- Plan something for guests whose needs we cannot meet
- Fewer choices mean faster service
- Mention any vegetarian or vegan guests
Bins and napkins near the hatch make life easier.
A chalkboard by the hatch with the menu keeps the queue moving.
About the food
Cod and chips
Cod and chips is the meal most people picture when they think of a chip shop. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it goes out hot and crisp.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans, and they’re on the menu.
Before you choose a spot
Every site is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Curry sauce
- Chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
Places near Downside
Other occasions in Downside
Downside: venues, parking and local tips
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. Across the KT11 area, we will come to your venue, home or workplace. We serve all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. We serve events right across the region, from Downside to Guildford (about 8 miles away).
PTAs at schools such as St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School often look for a hot-food stall for fairs and sports days. Nearby historic houses include Byfleet Manor (2.7 miles north-west) and The Homewood (2.8 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on vehicles and caterers early. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Downside, and some venues there have rules about vehicles on site. Ask your venue about vehicle access.
Wherever your event is in KT11, we can bring the van to you. We can serve an event on streets such as Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close or the roads around them, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Further out, we also take the van to Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
- Schools near Downside include Parkside School (1.2 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Public House (0.7 miles north)
Step by step
You will know we’re ready when the smell of frying drifts over. From then on, people come up as they’re ready. Evening events need a little planning for light: in Downside, sunset is around 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June, but by late December it’s dark by about 3:55pm.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- On the day, we park up and fry fresh for your guests.
- Everything goes out hot from the hatch, and we pack up afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Name one person we can call on the day
How to get a price
Still finalising the details? That is fine: tell us the basics about your event, and we will quote on that. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
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Organising for someone else?
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.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
- 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