Kent · England
Film and TV set catering in Shirkoak, Kent
From the first sizzle in the fryer to the last chip, a fish and chip van for the crew makes the food a highlight of your shoot in Shirkoak.
- Stills shoots
- Location filming
- Crew morale days
A chip van near Shirkoak
About our film set catering in Shirkoak
A van can get a crew fed quickly within the lunch break, with no kitchen needed on site. On the menu are mushy peas, pie and chips and sausage and chips, and we are regularly asked to cater commercials and music videos and wrap celebrations.
Rural locations near Shirkoak can be a long way from food, so a van at base is a big help. The menu is short on purpose: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van cooks in front of your crew instead.
More for events in Shirkoak
Planning the van’s spot
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- A route in the van can manage, with no low branches or tight lanes
- Away from the shooting area’s sound
- Permission for the van at base
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
From the hatch
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
A closer look at the menu
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce and it’s on the menu.
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Events we cater in Shirkoak
Service is quick from the hatch.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Shirkoak and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Unit base lunches
- Treat days on a long shoot
- Location shoots
- Music video shoots
Shirkoak is about 47 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- Whether there’s a minimum
- What the price includes, item by item
- The cancellation terms
Crew catering near Shirkoak
Shirkoak is about 5 miles south-west of Ashford, in Kent. Tell us where your shoot in Shirkoak will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Shirkoak is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we bring the van. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 19 miles away.
For crew arriving by train, the closest railway station is Ham Street station, roughly 4 miles south-east of the centre. Historic houses near Shirkoak include Smallhythe Place (4.8 miles south-west). Period locations like these typically keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early.
Here we cover the TN26 postcode area, and we can serve your shoot anywhere in it. From Bethersden Road, Shirkoak Park and Redbrook Street or a nearby road, we will bring the van to you. We also bring the van to shoots in Woodchurch (1 mile south), Brattle (1 mile south), Brook Street (2 miles south), Leigh Green (3 miles south-west) and Appledore Heath (4 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (5 miles north-east), Hythe (14 miles east), Tenterden (4 miles south-west), Bearsted (15 miles north-west), Park Wood (14 miles north-west) and Kennington (7 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Romden Castle (4.6 miles north-west) and Woodchurch Village Life Museum (0.7 miles south). Open spaces near Shirkoak include Orlestone Forest.
- Nearby, you will find The Bonny Cravat Inn (0.7 miles south)
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Shirkoak? Fish and chips is a reliable crowd-pleaser. Give us the details and we’ll suggest how it could work.
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.
Planning for dietary needs
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Give us a contact for call-time changes
- Flag any coeliac crew
- Agree how the base is left
- Send allergies to us in writing
We work to the lunch time on the call sheet, and a contact keeps us updated.
Tables or a marquee at base make lunch comfortable.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear. What affects it most:
- How easy the site is to reach
- Any minimum charge
- The day of the week
- How far we travel
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu and timing to match. Keeping the menu short is normally the best value.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- The venue or postcode
- Your date and serving time
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- A photo of the parking spot
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A picture of the spot helps too. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
FAQs for Shirkoak
Can the van park in Stone Wood?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
What’s the nearest station to Shirkoak?
The closest is Ham Street station, roughly 4 miles away.
Do you need power or water?
A suitable spot for the van and permission to park there. Tell us whether there’s power or water nearby and we will take it from there.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac crew when you enquire, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible.
How long does set-up take?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We confirm all the timings beforehand.
How much space do you need?
Not much: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, that the van can reach easily. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
Where do you take the van?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shirkoak.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. It is worth planning some cover for the queue.
How the day works
We take care of the food from arrival to the last chip, so you can get on with your shoot. Light in Shirkoak lasts until about 9:15pm at midsummer; for early or late service, base needs lighting.
- Tell us what you are 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.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- The pitch is left tidy when we go.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Get permission for the van from the venue
Getting a price
We only need a few details to quote: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can use our quote form.
Related guides
- 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