Medway · England
Care home fish and chip visits in Hempstead, Medway
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van visit makes the food a highlight of your care home visit in Hempstead.
- Birthday treats for residents
- Fish and chip Fridays
- Themed afternoons
A chip van near Hempstead
How our care home fish and chips works in Hempstead
Fish and chips stirs happy memories for many older people. A van visit turns a meal into an event. We are often asked to cater seaside days and summer fêtes and open days, serving pie and chips, haddock and chips and gravy.
Care homes around Hempstead are often in converted houses with a drive. Tell us about access. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Planning a van visit in Hempstead
Hempstead is about 2 miles south of Gillingham, in Medway. People in Hempstead book us for all sorts of reasons, but it always starts the same way: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We take the van to all 68 towns and villages across Medway. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
Hempstead is on or near the A278, so access for the van is simple. If your residents have links with All Saints Church, a fête or open day together is a nice moment for a van visit. Hempstead is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, a nice prompt for residents’ memories of days out.
Wherever your care home visit is in ME7 and ME8, we can fry fresh for your residents, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your care home visit is on Harrow Road, Spekes Road and Capstone Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the van to you. You will find Hempstead on the A278, so it is easy for us to reach with the van. We also bring the van to care home visits in Capstone (1 mile north-west), Darland (1 mile north-west), Wigmore (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north-west) and Park Wood (1 mile east). Further out, we also take the van to Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (5 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Chatham Waterfront (3 miles north-west), Rochester Riverside (4 miles north-west) and Peters Village (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3 miles north-west) and Medway megaliths (3.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hempstead include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Schools near Hempstead include Rainham School for Girls (1.3 miles north-east) and Howard School (1.3 miles north-east)
What the van needs
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but there are a few things to check:
- A route in without tight gates
- A level, firm spot such as the car park or drive
- Away from bedroom windows
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before booking.
From the hatch
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, park the van and get the fryers going. Residents usually gather round the hatch once service starts. Garden visits in Hempstead work best between late spring and early autumn, with sunset about 8:50pm in late May and 7:00pm in late September; in winter, keep it to lunchtime.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- We come back with availability and a clear price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Share the timings for the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Tell us what your venue needs and we will confirm what we can provide.
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.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. Here are a few tips:
- Tell us about residents’ needs in writing
- Keep the van clear of emergency access
- Ask about smaller portions
- Plan how food reaches residents indoors
Residents in their rooms get food on a covered tray right away.
Inviting families makes it even more special.
Questions from Hempstead
How far is Hempstead from London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Which station is closest to Hempstead?
The closest is Rainham (Kent) station, roughly 2.1 miles away.
Is there something for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many children, and we’ll include them in the plan.
How much does a fish and chip van visit cost in Hempstead?
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you need. Tell us your date and rough numbers and we will reply with a price.
How long are you on site?
We get there in good time to set up. Timings are agreed in advance.
Can you park at the home?
Wherever suits the home, as long as it is level and safe; we’ll check access.
What do you bring?
Everything is cooked in the van. Tell us about power, water and bins at the site.
Do you come to Hempstead?
We do. Hempstead is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
More for events in Hempstead
A chip van compared with other options
Next to a delivery order, the van cooks on site, so it isn’t lukewarm by the time it is plated. Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. Ask us for a quote.
Why Hempstead hosts choose us
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Rain does not stop the fryers
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
What a fish and chip van costs
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How easy the site is to reach
- The minimum booking
- The length of service
- Cod, haddock or both
Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- A picture of where the van would go
- The date and when you’d like to eat
Each quote is put together for your care home visit. Give us your date first, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
For a small group, making your own food can work. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and nobody has to miss the care home visit.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Events we cater in Hempstead
Families enjoy joining in.
The van suits big events and small ones. Common bookings include:
- Day centres and lunch clubs
- Residents’ celebrations
- Sheltered housing get-togethers
- Family days
Families coming by rail can use the station: Rainham (Kent) station is about 2.1 miles away.
What your quote should include
- How allergens are handled
- Whether VAT is included
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- A clear list of what’s included
- 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