Who We Are

The Jabberwocky's Keeper is Barny; chef, chemist, teacher, and self-professed Foodie. Give him quality provender and in less time than it takes to tell he will conjure up a meal to make your mouth water. He is the voice behind the twitter feed, and the creativity behind everything we serve. Barny's philosophy is based around a firm belief that the best food comes from the heart, and that anything will explode if you try hard enough.

Staunchly purveying these culinary creations to the general public is Flic, artisan story teller and people's champion of the cosy atmosphere. Flic is your guide through the delights of the mobile kitchen, and chronicler of the Jabberwocky past, present and future.

The Jabberwocky itself is a 1986 Long wheelbase VW Transporter, with a roar that could awaken the dead and a top speed of almost nothing at all. Despite its age the Jabberwocky is ferociously young at heart and likes thundering around Warwickshire sharing food with anyone it pleases. It has an inexplicable dislike of cats and steep hills.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been trading?

The Jabberwocky was incorporated in February 2011, our first festival was the Leamington Food Festival 2011.

Do I have to pay to hire the Jabberwocky if my customers are paying for their own food?

Almost certainly not. However this will depend on the amount of people attending and how many other caterers are booked. Rule of thumb: If we can make a profit, you don't have to pay a hire charge.

How far will you travel?

We aim to cover most of the Midlands, however prime stomping grounds are Warwickshire and Birmingham. Any and all pitches or events will be considered though, so please give us a call.

Can you cater for special dietary requirements?

Yes! As we cook everything fresh we have all the ingredients on board. We're more than happy to make you something to order, and if you give us advance warning (either when booking or tweet us if you will be at an advertised event) then we can guarantee nut/gluten/dairy/shellfish free products as required. Please note that due to the cooking process our regular toasties are never dairy or gluten free.

How many people can you cater for? /How many food vendors should I hire for my event?

We can produce about 120 toasties per hour. For happy food vendors and customers we recommend one trader per 750-1000 guests, so that queues are sensible and everyone makes a profit, although this is dependant on the event type and location.

What type of toasties do you do?

Gourmet toasties: Not just two slices of bread and a bit of cheese, but fresh bread from our local baker, carefully selected cheese and ingredients that have been so thoroughly tested they'd qualify for higher education. See our toastie page for details.

Are you registered with the Environmental Health?

Yes, and we've been given a 5 star food hygiene rating by Warwick District Council. We are also Gas Safe checked, PAT tested and have liability insurance; all of which are available if you would like to hire us for a booking - please just ask.

Why are you called the Jabberwocky?

We wanted something familiar but strange. It happens to be one of only two poems Flic knows by heart and people never forget the name. In fact they are much more likely to insist they have seen us before, even if the van has never been there.

I'm thinking of starting my own food van - what's your advice?

Brilliant, you will love it. Except when it's raining. Read our blog: It's been running since we first started and has our entire food journey, right from day one. We also have resources for people starting out in street food. If you still have any questions then get all social media at us, we will do our best to help!