West Sussex · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire for Merston events
Bring the chip shop to your event in Merston. The van arrives, the fryers go on and everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits waiting in a tray.
- Fêtes, fairs and school events
- Garden parties and summer get-togethers
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Fresh fish and chips in Merston
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Parks, greens and streets generally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Fish and chip van hire in Merston, fried fresh
The queue at the hatch is part of the fun. People gather, catch up and get their food straight from the fryer. Whether it’s gatherings after a funeral and staff lunches and team days, we can cook cod and chips, gravy and pie and chips.
For a rural spot like Merston, the setting does plenty of the work. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we will be straight with you about what we can do before booking.
- Where
- Merston (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Questions from Merston
Can you serve near the sea around Merston?
Yes. Wind does not affect the fryers, but plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
Can you serve after a service at Church of St Giles?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is typically served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
What does the van need?
Not much: a drive, a car park, a yard or a firm lawn, that the van can reach easily. If in doubt, send a photo.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible.
Do you cover Merston?
We do. We serve events in Merston and across West Sussex. Send us your date to check availability.
What food do you serve?
Fish and chips, of course, plus sausage or pie and chips. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Is there something for children?
Of course. Children typically love sausage and chips. Tell us how many are coming.
Can you feed a lot of people?
It can be. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we will tell you honestly how service will work.
Perfect for your event in Merston
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in car parks, yards and fields where plated meals are hard.
These are some of the bookings we take in Merston and West Sussex:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings, especially the evening
- Summer garden parties
For anyone arriving by rail, Chichester station is about 2.3 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- Whether there’s a minimum
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether VAT is included
- When payment is due
How it works
We don’t cook ahead. Each portion is battered and fried as it’s ordered, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. Late September evenings in Merston lose the light at about 7:05pm, and at Christmas it comes at about 4:00pm. For anything after that, plan lights for the queue.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Planning help
Planning the van’s spot
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We need:
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we serve
- Gravy
- Chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Curry sauce
Planning for dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Collect allergies with your RSVPs
- Put bins and napkins by the van
- Have a back-up for anyone who can’t eat from the van
- Keep the menu short to keep the queue moving
The oil needs time to come up to temperature, so we get there in good time. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
A string of bunting by the van makes a lovely photo.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
A big takeaway order arrives late and lukewarm. The van cooks right there, so it’s crisp when it’s handed over. Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so tell us exactly where your event is.
Why book our van in Merston
- Events in Merston and across West Sussex
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
Take a look at our prices page or our guide to van hire costs.
What a fish and chip van costs
Every booking is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- The day of the week
- How long we serve
- Distance and any road charges
- How many people are eating
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.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- Where the event is
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Still finalising the details? No problem: tell us the basics about your event, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, fill in our quote form.
Food your guests will love
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce and it is on the menu.
Places near Merston
Also in Merston
Bringing the van to Merston
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We serve events at homes, halls, workplaces and venues in Merston and the surrounding area. We take the van to 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 26 miles away.
After a service at Church of St Giles, the van can be waiting at a nearby hall or house. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Chichester Free School, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. The coast is within about 4 miles of Merston, and fish and chips always feels right near the sea. On windy days, we plan a sheltered side for the queue.
Here we cover the PO20 postcode area. Nearby, we also serve events in Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
- Schools near Merston include North Mundham Primary School (1.2 miles west) and Chichester High School For Girls (2.1 miles west)
- 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