Kent · England
Film Set Catering in Cotman's Ash
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew turns food into part of your shoot in Cotman's Ash.
- Crew treats on long shoot days
- Wrap celebrations
- Fashion shoots on location
Book the van in Cotman's Ash
How our film set catering works in Cotman's Ash
Location shoots, commercials and wrap parties all suit a chip van. Popular choices include pie and chips, haddock and chips and cod and chips, and we’re often booked for stills shoots and seaside shoots.
Near Cotman's Ash, check tracks and ground for the van. We cook inside the van, right where your crew are, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
A chip van compared with other options
Wrap parties add up. A van keeps it relaxed and simple. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- No kitchen needed
- No surprises in your quote
- Something for crew to gather round
See our prices page and the cost guide.
The process
Your timings come first. If the day runs behind, we hold off cooking until you are ready, so the food is still fresh when it’s served. Winter shoots near Cotman's Ash chase the light, which goes at about 3:55pm in December, so lunch at base is often in daylight but a wrap meal is not.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A photo of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for the crew.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Before we arrive
- Clear the route for the van
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We will come back with a clear quote.
Planning help
Towns and villages near Cotman's Ash
More for events in Cotman's Ash
Questions from Cotman's Ash
How far is Cotman's Ash from London?
Roughly 19 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Could you trade in Kemsing Down?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Tell us whether there is power or water nearby and we’ll take it from there.
How do you handle allergies?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Fish and gluten are the main ones in battered fish. Tell us about allergies in advance.
Can the van park on grass?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Let us know what the ground is like, and we will advise.
Where does the van go on location?
Yes, on level ground at base; we will check the route.
Do numbers include extras?
Yes, if they’re in your numbers. Confirm numbers the day before.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Tell us about any coeliac crew and we will explain the options.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
Location catering around Cotman's Ash
Cotman's Ash is about 3 miles north-east of Sevenoaks, in Kent. For shoots in Cotman's Ash, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. Cotman's Ash is one of 922 places in Kent where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Cotman's Ash to London (19 miles away).
For cast and crew travelling by train, Kemsing station is about 1.4 miles away. Cotman's Ash is about 19 miles from central London. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Cotman's Ash, so check vehicle rules with locations.
Anywhere in TN15, we can bring the van to you. For shoots just outside Cotman's Ash, we cover Woodlands (1 mile north-east), Heaverham (1 mile south-east), Knatts Valley (1 mile north), Romney Street (1 mile north-west) and Kemsing (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (13 miles east), Dartford (9 miles north), Sevenoaks (3 miles south-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (13 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles north-east) and Tonbridge (8 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Kemsing Castle Bank (0.9 miles south-west) and Sevenoaks Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). Open spaces near Cotman's Ash include Dryhill Nature Reserve.
- Local pubs include The Rising Sun pub (within half a mile north-west)
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a few crew with dietary needs. To look after them:
- Update numbers if they change
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Send the unit base address and directions
- Plan bins and waste at base
Used oil leaves with the van.
Plan bins at the unit base.
What affects the price in Cotman's Ash
We will give you a clear quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- The number of meals
- Cod, haddock or both
- The length of service
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The address or venue name
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Your date and serving time
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and you will get a clear price. To get started, use our quote form.
What the van needs
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We need:
- Away from the shooting area’s sound
- Agreement from the location manager and landowner
- A queue area clear of trucks
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
From the hatch
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Crew lunches
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
A closer look at the menu
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it goes perfectly with a pie.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the side most people expect.
Who books film set catering in Cotman's Ash?
It works in any weather.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. In Cotman's Ash, people book us for events such as:
- Treat days on a long shoot
- Photo shoots
- Location shoots
- Seaside shoots
Among the historic houses close to Cotman's Ash are Lullingstone Castle (3.4 miles north-west) and Knole House (3.9 miles south-west). If you’re shooting at a historic house, the van will need a base agreed with the property.
Questions to ask before booking
- How late numbers can change
- Any minimum charge
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many hours the van serves
- 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