Hampshire · England
Party Fish and Chip Van in Upper Common
Planning a fish and chip van for your party in Upper Common? We bring the van to you and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Family parties with children
- Garden get-togethers
- Street parties and neighbourhood events
Book the van in Upper Common
Upper Common questions
We’re gathering after a service at Church of St. Martin: can you come?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is usually elsewhere. Send us the address.
Do you come out to small places like Upper Common?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is there a non-fish option?
Yes: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Tell us roughly how many to expect.
Can you do something for the children?
Most children go for sausage and chips. Let us know numbers and ages.
What do we need to supply?
A suitable spot for the van and permission to park there. Tell us whether there is power or water nearby and we will confirm the rest.
How long does set-up take?
That depends on your numbers and timings. We agree arrival, serving and finishing times with you before the day.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are very welcome. Let us know numbers, and we’ll plan for them.
Can the van park on my drive?
That depends on the space and the route in. Mention anything tight, and we’ll advise.
How our party fish and chip van works in Upper Common
The queue at the hatch gets people mixing, which is what a party is all about. We’re frequently asked to cater family reunions and neighbourhood get-togethers, with gravy, curry sauce and pie and chips.
Near Upper Common, parties are often in gardens or fields. Let us know about access, and we’ll plan the route. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your party, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
Nearby places to Upper Common
What else we do in Upper Common
Occasions we serve in Upper Common
Everyone from toddlers to grandparents enjoys it, which makes it perfect for family celebrations.
Whatever brings people together, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We regularly serve:
- Christenings and naming days
- Birthday parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Children’s parties
Within reach of Upper Common are historic houses such as Hall Place (3.9 miles south-east) and Bentworth Hall (4.4 miles south-east). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on catering vans first.
Before you book anyone
- Any minimum charge
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether VAT is included
- Travel, tolls and road charges
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning the van’s spot
If a spot is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another. The main points are:
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
From the hatch
- Pie and chips
- Chips
- Curry sauce
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
Prices and what affects them
Fish and chip van pricing is simple once we know the basics:
- Your choice of menu
- How many people are eating
- The minimum booking
- Service time
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the parking spot
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Your date and serving time
Every quote is worked out for your event. Give us your date first, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
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 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’s fried on the spot.
The menu, dish by dish
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Sausage and chips
A sausage and chips is the chip-shop classic for younger guests and fish-dodgers.
Planning a party in Upper Common
Upper Common is about 4 miles south of Basingstoke, in Hampshire. Parties in Upper Common are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. We serve 683 places across Hampshire. We serve events right across the region, from Upper Common to Reading (about 18 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the closest railway station is Basingstoke station, roughly 4.4 miles north of the centre. A christening at Church of St. Martin followed by fish and chips on the drive is a simple, popular plan.
This part of Hampshire takes in RG25, so your party can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we serve parties include Ellisfield (1 mile north-east), Cliddesden (2 miles north), Nashes Green (3 miles east), Viables (3 miles north) and Eastrop (4 miles north). Further out, we also take the van to Basingstoke (4 miles north), Winchester (14 miles south-west), Fleet (12 miles north-east), Aldershot (15 miles east), Alton (6 miles south-east) and Petersfield (15 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Barton Castle (4.6 miles south) and Gliding Heritage Centre (3.5 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Farleigh Hill.
- Nearby, you will find The Fox pub (within half a mile north-west)
How the day works
The first sign we have arrived is typically the smell. After that, it’s a steady flow to the hatch. For a late-May party in Upper Common, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it’s about 9:25pm. If the party runs past dark, the queue and the path to the van need light.
- First, the plan: what, where and what time.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Before we arrive
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We will send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Read more
Is a fish and chip van right for your party?
A buffet is easy but forgettable. A chip van gives guests something to talk about. Larger groups typically cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Upper Common hosts choose us
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Classic food your guests already know
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
See how we price or the cost guide.
- 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