Kent · England
Film and TV set catering in Hadlow, Kent
Film set catering in Hadlow: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, and served hot from the hatch at the time you choose.
- Live events and broadcasts
- Period dramas on location
- Location filming
Film set catering in Hadlow
Film set catering in Hadlow, cooked to order
Shoot days are long, and a hot lunch on time matters. We park at the unit base and cook to order. Whether it is lunch at the unit base and treat days on a long shoot, we’ll put together a menu of haddock and chips, mushy peas and pie and chips.
Near Hadlow, crews may be miles from anywhere to eat, so lunch at base matters. The menu is short on purpose: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
How we price a fish and chip van for the crew
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How long we serve
- The menu and how many choices
- Access and parking
- How far we travel
Larger groups typically cost less per head, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- Anything awkward about the way in
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your shoot, and we will check the date and send a price.
Looking after everyone
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Share the base location and route
- Put allergy details in writing
- Plan an alternative for anyone we can’t cater for
- Ask for dietary needs on the crew info form
Supporting artists and visitors can be included in numbers.
Tables or a marquee at base make lunch comfortable.
Space, access and the venue
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Clear of the shot and sound
- Access checked by locations
- Agreement from the location manager and landowner
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
From the hatch
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
Other occasions in Hadlow
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Location catering around Hadlow
Hadlow is about 3 miles north-east of Tonbridge, in Kent. Wherever your shoot is in the TN11 area, we will come to your venue, home or workplace. We take the van to all 922 towns and villages in Kent. You can also see our page for London, about 26 miles away.
For crew arriving by train, Beltring station is about 3.3 miles away. Historic houses near Hadlow include Old Soar Manor (2.6 miles north) and Ightham Mote (3.6 miles north-west). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations.
We serve shoots across the TN11 postcode area. Streets in the area include The Square, High Street and Brookfields, and the van can serve a shoot on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Nearby, we also serve shoots in Pittswood (1 mile west), Goose Green (1 mile north-east), Golden Green (1 mile south), Parker's Green (1 mile south-west) and Barnes Street (1 mile south-east). Further out, we also take the van to Maidstone (9 miles east), Sevenoaks (7 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (7 miles south-west), Gravesend (14 miles north), Tonbridge (3 miles south-west) and Northfleet (14 miles north).
A little further out are Hadlow Tower museum (under half a mile south-east) and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (4.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Hadlow include Barden Lake and Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve.
- Schools near Hadlow include Hadlow College (within half a mile west) and Hadlow Rural Community School (less than half a mile south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Rose & Crown pub (within half a mile north-west)
Common questions in Hadlow
How far is Hadlow from London?
About 26 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Which station is closest to Hadlow?
Beltring station, about 3.3 miles south-east of the centre.
Do you cover Hadlow?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Hadlow. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
It depends on numbers, the menu and how people arrive. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Can the van come to our wrap?
Yes, it’s a popular wrap. Tell us the details.
Can you park on the road outside?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
What paperwork do you provide?
Send us your supplier requirements.
Can you cook in the rain?
We carry on in the rain, because the fryers are inside. Soft ground after heavy rain is the bigger issue, so have a hard-surface spot in mind.
Events we cater in Hadlow
Service is quick from the hatch.
Whatever brings people together, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We’re often booked for:
- Wrap parties
- Shoots on location
- Seaside shoots
- Unit base lunches
Hadlow is about 26 miles from central London.
Comparing caterers
- Payment terms and deposit
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- If the price includes VAT
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
What happens on the day
We arrive on time, parks where we agreed and the hatch goes up. When the fryers are up to heat, service starts right on schedule. Sunset in Hadlow is about 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:00pm in late September; for early or late service, base needs lighting.
- You share your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
How to prepare
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Have a level parking spot ready
How to get a price
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. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Read more
Is a fish and chip van right for your shoot?
Long shoots usually need a full catering unit. A chip van suits short shoots and treat days. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu and timing to match. A short menu is often the best value.
Why book our van in Hadlow
- Bookings across Kent, including Hadlow
- Rain does not stop the fryers
- All the chip-shop extras
- Something for crew to gather round
Take a look at our prices page and our guide to van hire costs.
What comes out of the fryer
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips covers anyone who does not want fish, and children love it.
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. We batter it and fry it to order.
- 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