Kent · England
Film Set Catering for Smarden Bell events
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 Smarden Bell.
- Outside broadcasts
- Lunch at the unit base
- Seaside shoots
A chip van near Smarden Bell
Questions from Smarden Bell
Can the van go to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is Smarden Bell too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Where can the van park?
Less than you might think: a drive, a car park, a yard or a firm lawn, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a picture.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes. Everything is fried fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
We quote for each booking, based on your numbers and timings. Tell us your date and rough numbers for a clear quote.
Can you adjust to schedule changes?
We can. Tell us the lunch time and a contact on the day, and we’ll adjust where possible.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. Tell us your timings and we’ll advise.
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.
Film set catering for your shoot in Smarden Bell
On a long job, a chip van day is a morale boost, alongside regular catering. Popular choices include pie and chips, cod and chips and haddock and chips, and we’re frequently booked for crew treats on long shoot days and crew lunches at base.
Near Smarden Bell, check tracks and ground for the van with locations. Everything is fried fresh at your shoot, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet, and handed over as soon as it’s ready.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear. What affects it most:
- Access and parking
- The date and time of year
- Any minimum charge
- Service time
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Where you’d like the van to go
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We will send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Allergies and dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Send the unit base address and directions
- Agree the waste plan with locations
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Make sure we can reach locations on the day
Lunch is planned around the call sheet, with a contact for changes.
A quick pre-order speeds things up.
Nearby places to Smarden Bell
What else we do in Smarden Bell
Crew catering near Smarden Bell
Smarden Bell is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Shoots in Smarden Bell are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. Smarden Bell is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
Crew coming by rail can use the station: the closest railway station is Headcorn station, roughly 2 miles west of the centre. Smarden Bell is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, and locations in protected landscapes often have rules about vehicles.
For shoots in TN27, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many crew. We can serve a shoot on streets such as Bell Lane and Headcorn Road, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. Neighbouring places where we serve shoots include Swift's Green (1 mile north), Smarden (1 mile south-east), Biddenden Green (1 mile east), Monk's Hill (1 mile south) and Lashenden (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (10 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Romden Castle (1.8 miles south-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (2.8 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The Bell Inn (within half a mile south)
Planning the van’s spot
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We look for:
- Permission for the van at base
- A route in the van can manage, with no low branches or tight lanes
- Lighting for early or late service
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we serve
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Crew lunches
Is a fish and chip van right for your shoot?
Next to a sandwich lunch, a chip van gives the crew a proper hot meal. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A short service and a long afternoon’s trading are very different bookings. We set everything out in your quote.
Why us?
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- No kitchen needed
- Classic food your crew already know
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
Take a look at how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Step by step
Because we cook inside the van, rain does not stop us. Crew will still appreciate a bit of cover near the hatch. On a winter shoot near Smarden Bell, 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.
- Tell us what you are planning and when you’d like to eat.
- We come back with availability and a clear price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance.
- 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
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Keep space clear for crew at the hatch
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
How to get a price
Every quote is worked out for your event. Give us your date first, and we will check availability straight away.
Related guides
Occasions we serve in Smarden Bell
Productions book a chip van because crews love it.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Smarden Bell and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Period dramas on location
- Music video shoots
- Crew lunches at base
- Crew morale days
Smarden Bell is about 41 miles from central London.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- The deadline for final numbers
- If the price includes VAT
- Allergen information for each item
What comes out of the fryer
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce and it’s on the menu.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Fried to order in the van, it’s hot, crisp and generous.
For event organisers in Smarden Bell
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
For repeat bookings, such as regular staff lunches or annual fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
- 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