Kent · England
Film and TV set catering in Marley, Kent
Film set catering in Marley: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch at the time you choose.
- Location shoots
- Crew treats on long shoot days
- Live events and broadcasts
Film set catering in Marley
What happens on the day
Serving is straightforward: food goes from the fryer to the hatch. Afterwards we pack up. On a winter shoot near Marley, the light goes by about 3:50pm, so a late lunch or wrap at base needs lighting. In summer, light lasts until about 9:15pm.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- Show us where the van would go, and we’ll confirm it works.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for the crew.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep space clear for crew at the hatch
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
Get a quote
We only need a few details to quote: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, use our quote form.
Planning help
About our film set catering in Marley
A chip van fits right in at seaside locations. For seaside and period locations and lunch at the unit base, we can cook sausage and chips, haddock and chips and cod and chips and more.
Rural locations near Marley can be a long way from food, so a van at base is a big help. Your quote spells out what’s included: the date, the service time and the menu, with no surprises on the day.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Let us know about coeliac disease
- Collect diets and allergies with crew details
- Send final numbers the day before
- Confirm allergies by email
Fewer choices mean faster service in a lunch break.
A dining area at base helps.
Organising for someone else?
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will work through them with you.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is usually the easier option.
How we price a fish and chip van for the crew
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, because of:
- The length of service
- Any minimum charge
- Your choice of menu
- Numbers
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. A short menu is frequently the best value.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Roughly how many people, including children
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Marley: your questions answered
Which station is closest to Marley?
Sandwich station, about 2.5 miles north of the centre.
How far is Marley from London?
Roughly 65 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can the van park on grass?
Often, if the ground is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
Where does the van go on location?
Yes, wherever locations agree; we will check the route.
What’s on the menu?
Proper fish and chips, with sausages and pies for anyone who does not want fish. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Can you work to the call sheet?
Schedules move, and we plan for it. Keep us updated and we will adapt.
Do we need to provide equipment?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You provide a suitable spot and permission to park.
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, including Marley.
Occasions we serve in Marley
It’s self-contained.
These are some of the bookings we take around Marley:
- Lunch at the unit base
- Period dramas on location
- Treat days on a long shoot
- End-of-shoot parties
Within reach of Marley are historic houses such as Walmer Castle (3.5 miles south-east) and Goodnestone Park (5 miles west). Period locations like these generally keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early.
Questions to ask before booking
- Whether VAT is included
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- How many hours the van serves
- The deposit and payment dates
Shooting in Marley: unit bases and access
Marley is about 3 miles north-west of Deal, in Kent. Give us the address of your shoot in Marley, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We serve 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We serve events right across the region, from Marley to Canterbury (12 miles away).
For cast and crew travelling by train, the nearest station is Sandwich station, about 2.5 miles north. Marley is roughly 65 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews. The coast is within about 3 miles of Marley, and coastal unit bases can be exposed, so plan where crew will queue.
Anywhere in CT14, we can fry fresh for your crew. That could mean a shoot at a home on Broad Lane and Marley Lane or the roads around them, as long as there is somewhere for the van. Other places close to Marley we cover include Finglesham (1 mile north-east), Hacklinge (1 mile north-east), Northbourne (1 mile south), Ham (1 mile north-west) and Sholden Meadows (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (12 miles west), Margate (10 miles north), Dover (7 miles south), Folkestone (13 miles south-west), Ramsgate (8 miles north-east) and Broadstairs (10 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Sandown Castle (2.7 miles east) and Kent Museum of the Moving Image (2.6 miles east). Within reach you’ll find Monk's Wall nature reserve.
- Schools near Marley include Sandwich Technology School (2.1 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Crown Inn (within half a mile north-east)
Where the van can park in Marley
If a spot is not suitable, we will tell you. The main points are:
- Clear of the shot and sound
- A clear route to base
- 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.
On the menu in Marley
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Crew lunches
- Pie and chips
Nearby places to Marley
Other occasions in Marley
About the food
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it’s a favourite in colder months.
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it’s lovely with a pie.
- 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