Advice
Advice and planning guides
Practical guides to planning food for weddings, parties and events, and everything about fish and chips.
Planning and prices
How much does a fish and chip van cost to hire?
Published price ranges, what changes the price, and how to compare quotes like for like.
15 questions to ask before you book a fish and chip van
Use this list to compare vans like for like and avoid surprises on the day.
How much space does a fish and chip van need?
Where the van can go, what the ground needs to be like, and how to check access before the day.
Feeding a crowd from a food van
How to keep the queue short and everyone fed, whatever the size of the event.
Fish and chip van, hog roast or barbecue?
How the three most popular event caterers compare, and which suits your guests.
Food van or traditional caterer?
A practical comparison to help you decide which suits your event.
How far in advance should you book a food van?
The busy dates, the quiet ones, and what to do at short notice.
Outdoor catering in the rain: your wet-weather plan
Because it’s Britain, and it might.
Do you need permission for a food van in a park or street?
Who to ask before booking a van for a public or shared space.
Weddings
A fish and chip van at your wedding: a planning guide
Everything to sort out, from timings and numbers to where the van parks.
Evening wedding food ideas
What to serve once the dancing starts, and how much you need.
Wedding catering timeline: what to book when
A simple timeline for wedding food, from the first enquiry to the day itself.
Parties
Birthday party food ideas for a crowd
How to feed a big birthday party without spending it in the kitchen.
The garden party checklist
Everything to think about before the guests arrive.
Children’s party food that actually gets eaten
Simple, familiar food and a few tips for feeding a crowd of children.
A food van for your street party
How to add a fish and chip van to a street party, step by step.
Retirement and leaving party ideas
Ways to send a colleague off in style, without a fuss.
Work, events and communities
Staff lunch ideas: a fish and chip van at work
How to plan a staff treat that suits every team, from the office to the warehouse floor.
Christmas party catering ideas (that aren’t another turkey dinner)
How to feed a team or a family at Christmas without the usual set menu.
Booking food traders: a guide for event organisers
How to get the food right at a festival, fair or show.
Village fête food: how to get it right
A practical guide for fête committees and volunteers.
School fair food ideas for PTAs
Feeding families at a summer fair or sports day, and raising money while you do it.
How to run a fish and chip supper fundraiser
A classic fundraiser that’s easy to organise and popular with all ages.
Film set catering: a guide for productions
Feeding cast and crew on location, on time and without fuss.
Wakes and care homes
Funeral wake catering: a simple guide
Practical help with food after a funeral, when you have a lot else to think about.
A fish and chip day at your care home
How to plan a van visit that residents, families and staff all enjoy.
Diets and food safety
Allergens at events: a guide for hosts
How to keep guests with allergies safe, and what to ask your caterer.
Gluten-free fish and chips at events: what to ask
What makes fish and chips safe for coeliac guests, and how to check.
Vegetarian and vegan guests at a fish and chip van
What to check so everyone gets something to eat.
All about fish and chips
A short history of fish and chips
How two separate foods became Britain’s favourite takeaway.
Cod or haddock?
The great fish and chip debate, settled (sort of).
Mushy peas, curry sauce or gravy?
A guide to the chip-shop sides, and the regional loyalties behind them.
Sustainable fish and chips: what to look for
What to ask about where the fish comes from.
Why fish and chips came wrapped in newspaper
A bit of chip-shop history, and why it changed.
Ready to book the van?
- 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