Kent · England
Film Set Catering in Darenth
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 Darenth.
- Stills shoots
- Crew lunches at base
- Shoots on location
Planning an event in Darenth?
How our film set catering works in Darenth
Seaside and period locations suit a fish and chip van perfectly. We serve haddock and chips, cod and chips and pie and chips, and typical bookings are for crew morale days and period dramas on location.
Rural locations near Darenth can be a long way from food, so lunch at base matters. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet, and handed over as soon as it’s ready.
Darenth questions
Could you trade in Darenth Country Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first.
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 work to whatever the site needs.
Do you cater wrap parties?
Yes, it’s a popular wrap. Send us the date and place.
Can you serve children?
Children are very welcome. Let us know numbers, and we will plan for them.
Can you park at the unit base?
Yes, wherever locations agree.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Tell us about coeliac crew when you enquire, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
What will the production need?
Every production asks for different things, so ask your production office for the list and we’ll go through it.
What the van needs
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but a few things matter:
- Away from the shooting area’s sound
- Lighting for early or late service
- A level, firm spot at the unit base
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Darenth
- Mushy peas
- Crew lunches
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
Crew catering near Darenth
Darenth is about 2 miles south-east of Dartford, in Kent. Darenth is well within our area, so your shoot just needs a date, a spot for the van and a serving time. We serve 922 places in Kent. Our bookings stretch from Darenth to London (about 16 miles away).
Darenth is about 16 miles from central London. For cast and crew travelling by train, Farningham Road station, about 1.6 miles south-west, is the nearest station. Darenth is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and locations in protected landscapes frequently have rules about vehicles.
This part of Kent takes in DA2, and we can serve your shoot anywhere in it. From Hill Rise, Hillside and Moss Way or anywhere nearby, we will bring the van to you. Other places close to Darenth we cover include St Margarets (1 mile south), Green Street Green (1 mile south-east), Sutton at Hone (1 mile south-west), South Darenth (1 mile south) and Bean (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Sevenoaks (10 miles south), Gravesend (5 miles east), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Northfleet (4 miles east), Swanley (4 miles south-west) and Kings Hill (12 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bluewater (1.5 miles north-east) and Darenth Park Hospital (1 mile north). Within reach you’ll find Wansunt Pit and Sawyers Lake.
- Local schools include Leigh Academy (1.5 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find Fox & Hounds pub (within half a mile north-west)
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
For planners, venues and organisers
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Places near Darenth
Other occasions in Darenth
Events we cater in Darenth
It lifts the crew.
Whatever the occasion in Darenth, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We regularly serve:
- Crew treats on long shoot days
- Live events and broadcasts
- Unit base lunches
- Wrap parties
Within reach of Darenth are historic houses such as Hall Place and Gardens (4.6 miles north-west). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations.
What to look for in a quote
- The deadline for final numbers
- How many hours the van serves
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether VAT is included
Step by step
Changes on the day are fine: we will adjust start times and pace. On a winter shoot near Darenth, the light goes by about 3:50pm, so the unit base needs lighting for late service. In summer, light lasts until about 9:20pm.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance, and how it gets in.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Getting ready for the day
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Have a level parking spot ready
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
A closer look at the menu
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips is the go-to for anyone who is not a fish fan.
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion, so we bring it along.
Planning for dietary needs
Most events have a few crew with dietary needs. To look after them:
- Give us a contact for call-time changes
- Add an allergy question to crew forms
- Let us know about coeliac disease
- Send final numbers the day before
Supporting artists and visitors can be included in numbers.
Tables or a marquee at base make lunch comfortable.
A chip van compared with other options
Wrap parties add up. A van makes a relaxed wrap. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Why book our van in Darenth
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
Read our pricing and the cost guide.
- 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