Kent · England
Film Set Catering for Bowmans events
Film set catering in Bowmans: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
- Fashion shoots on location
- Ad shoots
- Shoots on location
Film set catering for Bowmans events
About our film set catering in Bowmans
Everything is cooked as crew come up, so lunch is hot and fresh. We’re frequently asked to cater location shoots and wrap parties, with sausage and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
For a location shoot near Bowmans, base might be in a field or farmyard. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Cod, haddock or both
- Service time
- How easy the site is to reach
- How many people are eating
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your shoot is.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The date and time of the event
- Where the van would park
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- The venue or postcode
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: give us a rough idea and the date, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Working with your venue
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll 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.
Towns and villages near Bowmans
Other occasions in Bowmans
Food your guests will love
Sausage and chips
For anyone who does not fancy fish, there is sausage and chips, and it’s a favourite with children.
Mushy peas
No fish and chips is complete without mushy peas for many people, and they’re on the menu.
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Allergies and dietary needs
We need to know about dietary needs and allergies in advance, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible. To make it work smoothly:
- Update numbers if they change
- Give us a map or what3words for base
- Name a contact in the production office
- Add an allergy question to crew forms
Lunch is planned around the call sheet, and a contact keeps us updated.
Plan bins at the unit base.
Crew catering near Bowmans
Bowmans is about 2 miles west of Dartford, in Kent. Around Bowmans, we park wherever there’s level, firm ground. We serve all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We serve events right across the region, from Bowmans to London (13 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Hall Place and Gardens (1.1 miles north-west) and Red House (2.5 miles north-west). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations. For cast and crew travelling by train, the nearest station is Crayford station, about 0.6 miles north. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Bowmans, so check vehicle rules with locations.
Wherever your shoot is in DA1, DA2 and DA5, we can fry fresh for your crew, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Streets in the area include Swan Lane, Dale Road and Ross Road, and the van can serve a shoot on any of them with a suitable parking spot. You will find Bowmans on the A2018, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van. For shoots just outside Bowmans, we cover Wilmington (1 mile south), Crayford (1 mile north), Coldblow (1 mile west), Joyden's Wood (1 mile south-west) and Barnes Cray (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Sevenoaks (11 miles south), Gravesend (9 miles east), Northfleet (7 miles east), Swanley (3 miles south), Kings Hill (15 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (5 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bexley Museum (1.1 miles north-west) and Broadway Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Wansunt Pit.
- Schools near Bowmans include Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (0.8 miles south-east) and St Columba's Catholic Boys' School (1.4 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include Bird in Hand pub (0.8 miles north-east)
- Local facilities include Colyers (2.2 miles north)
How the day works
We need time before service to bring the fryers up to heat, so we always arrive well ahead of your serving time. Light in Bowmans lasts until about 9:20pm at midsummer; for dawn calls or late wraps, plan lighting at base.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- Show us where the van would go, and we’ll confirm it works.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for the crew.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Getting ready for the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Tell us when you want to eat
How to get a price
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we will check availability straight away.
Related guides
Where the van can park in Bowmans
The van has to be able to get in and park safely, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- A clear route to base
- A level, firm spot at the unit base
- Space in front of the hatch
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Crew lunches
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
A chip van compared with other options
Ordering takeaway to a location is unreliable. A van cooks at the unit base. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
Read our pricing and our guide to van hire costs.
Bowmans questions
Can the van go to venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Can the van park in Dartford Heath?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
What if the weather’s bad?
We carry on in the rain, because the cooking happens inside. Soft ground after heavy rain is the bigger issue, so have a hard-surface spot in mind.
Do you do anything other than fish?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
Do you need power or water?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we’ll take it from there.
Do you come to Bowmans?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Bowmans and the rest of Kent. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Do you cater wrap parties?
Yes, and crews love it. Send us the date and place.
What if we only have street parking?
Only where it’s legal to park, or with a council parking suspension or road closure. Check with your council first.
- 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