McCain Mr Chippy Pop-up

Brighton Beach is getting a bit of a curious addition this weekend. McCain is setting up their 'Mr Chippy' van right by the i360, and they are serving something that is likely to divide opinion: hot, crispy chips dipped in soft-serve ice cream. It is a classic sweet and salty experiment, timed to coincide with the start of British Summer Time and the Easter holidays. Laura Koscik, the marketing director at McCain, mentioned that they see this as a specific kind of treat for those crisp, sunny spring days we sometimes get on the coast. It is a straightforward concept, really—just a van on the beach offering a combination that people usually keep separate.

If you are curious about whether this combination actually works, the van will be there on the 28th and 29th of March 2026. It is worth noting that this is part of a two-weekend run, so if you are not around this time, there is another opportunity to see what the fuss is about. They are operating from 12:00 until 18:00, or until they run out of stock, and everything is free of charge. It is a simple setup: you walk up, grab your portion, and decide for yourself if the flavour profile is something you enjoy or something you would rather avoid.

The whole idea seems to lean into that "love it or hate it" debate that often pops up with food experiments. McCain’s own research suggests that about 24.8% of adults in the UK are open to trying this mix of hot chips and cold ice cream. It is not trying to be a gourmet meal, but rather a bit of a unique experience for anyone wandering along the beach. Whether you are a fan of mixing your temperatures and flavours or you think it sounds completely wrong, it is an option if you are heading down to the seafront. It is one of those things that you probably have to taste to form an opinion on, and since it is free, it is a low-stakes way to see if you are part of that 24.8% who are actually into it.