Kent · England
Christmas party fish and chips in Etchinghill, Kent
Looking for a fish and chip van for your Christmas party in Etchinghill? We bring the van to you and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Festive gatherings after Christmas
- Depot Christmas treats
- Christmas socials for clubs
Planning an event in Etchinghill?
How our Christmas party fish and chips works in Etchinghill
It works for teams who cannot all leave at once, because service can be planned in waves. Typical bookings include lights switch-on events and boxing Day and New Year gatherings, with cod and chips, curry sauce and haddock and chips.
In winter near Etchinghill, we need firm ground and light, as fields are often soft. Timings are planned around your Christmas party, whether that is a first dance, a lunch break or a service time.
Organising for someone else?
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.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
The process
The van needs a level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, and we agree exactly where before the day. By about 3:50pm in late December, it is dark in Etchinghill; park the van where there’s good light, and keep the walk short.
- We start with a few details about your Christmas party.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- Timings and the van’s spot are agreed in advance.
- We cook to order on the day for your guests.
- We serve from the hatch, then leave the pitch tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
Still finalising the details? That is fine: give us a rough idea and the date, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning for dietary needs
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Let us know about coeliac disease
- Ask about your date in the autumn, or earlier
- Think about a gazebo or covered doorway
- Send round an allergy question
For a work party, food early in the evening normally works best.
Festive lights by the van look great.
Food your guests will love
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Sausage and chips
For anyone who doesn’t fancy fish, there is sausage and chips, and it is a favourite with children.
Etchinghill in December: what to know
Etchinghill is about 3 miles north of Hythe, in Kent. Whether your Christmas party is in the middle of Etchinghill or on the outskirts, the service works the same way: fish and chips fried to order, served hot and quoted clearly. Etchinghill is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we bring the van. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
A winter fair at a school like Lyminge Church of England Primary School gets dark early, so hot food from a van is popular. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Etchinghill, where winter lanes can be dark and narrow, so tell us about the route. With the sea within about 4 miles, December breezes can be cold, so plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
This part of Kent takes in CT18. Whether your Christmas party is on St Marys Close, Meriden Walk and St Marys Drive or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the van to you. For Christmas parties just outside Etchinghill, we cover Lyminge (1 mile north), Postling (1 mile west), Woodland (2 miles north-west), Skeete (2 miles north-west) and Ottinge (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (10 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north), Dover (9 miles east), Folkestone (4 miles south-east), Deal (15 miles north-east) and Hythe (3 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Royal Victoria Hospital (3.8 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (1.4 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Tolsford Hill.
- Schools near Etchinghill include Brockhill Park Performing Arts College (2.4 miles south-west)
Before you choose a spot
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we serve
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Curry sauce
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
More for events in Etchinghill
Why choose Christmas party fish and chips in Etchinghill?
There is no venue to book or taxis to arrange.
Here are some of the occasions we serve:
- End-of-year club parties
- Depot Christmas treats
- School and PTA Christmas fairs
- Festive gatherings after Christmas
For anyone getting the train home after the party, Sandling station, about 2 miles south-west, is the nearest station.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the price includes, item by item
- The deposit and payment dates
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- How allergens are handled
Etchinghill questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes. Wind does not affect the fryers, but plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
What’s the nearest station to Etchinghill?
Sandling station, about 2 miles south-west of the centre.
Where do you take the van?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How long does set-up take?
We get there in good time to set up. Timings are agreed in advance.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
Usually, if it’s firm and dry. Soft, wet ground can trap any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. We’ll talk it through when we quote.
Can you trade at our Christmas fair?
We do. Tell us the date and pitch.
What time is best for food?
Whenever suits your party. Remember it is dark by about 4pm in December.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Compared with a restaurant Christmas lunch, a van brings the meal to the team. Fish and chip van prices depend on the booking. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. We set everything out in your quote.
Why book our van in Etchinghill
- Something for guests to gather round
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- A clear quote before you book
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
See how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
- 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