Kent · England
Film Set Catering in Smeeth
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew makes the food a highlight of your shoot in Smeeth.
- Crew treats on long shoot days
- Ad shoots
- Seaside shoots
Film set catering for Smeeth events
How our film set catering works in Smeeth
Call times change, so give us a contact on the day and we will adjust where we can. We’re frequently asked to cater lunch at the unit base and outside broadcasts, serving cod and chips, haddock and chips and mushy peas.
For a shoot in a place like Smeeth, tracks and soft ground need checking. Everything is fried fresh at your shoot, not cooked earlier and kept warm, and served the moment it comes out of the fryer.
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
- A lit spot for dark mornings or evenings
- A hardstanding spot at the unit base
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Smeeth
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Crew lunches
Events we cater in Smeeth
It’s self-contained.
These are some of the bookings we take around Smeeth:
- Crew lunches at base
- Stills shoots
- Shoots on location
- Ad shoots
Historic houses near Smeeth include Westenhanger Castle (3.4 miles south-east). Period locations like these normally keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early.
Before you book anyone
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- How much space the van takes up
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The cancellation terms
The menu, dish by dish
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips is the go-to for anyone who isn’t a fish fan.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Also in Smeeth
DIY versus a fish and chip van
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.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the shoot.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. Our advice:
- Name a contact in the production office
- Agree the waste plan with locations
- Add an allergy question to crew forms
- Update numbers if they change
We set up at the unit base ahead of lunch.
Plan bins at the unit base.
What affects the price in Smeeth
These are the factors that matter most:
- Service time
- The menu and how many choices
- The minimum booking
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. Keeping the menu short is generally the best value.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of the space and the way in
- Where you’d like the van to go
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your shoot, and we will come back with availability and a quote.
Questions from Smeeth
Is Smeeth close to London?
Roughly 53 miles from the centre of London.
Do you come out to small places like Smeeth?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you serve children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many children, and we’ll plan for them.
Do you come to Smeeth?
We do. We serve events in Smeeth and across Kent. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Does the batter contain gluten?
No, not as standard: batter is typically made with wheat flour. Tell us about any coeliac crew and we will explain the options before booking.
Do you cater wrap parties?
Yes. A chip van suits a relaxed wrap party.
What will the production need?
Tell us what the production needs and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
What’s on the menu?
Fish and chips, of course, plus sausage or pie and chips. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Ordering takeaway to a location is unreliable. The van cooks on site. Larger groups normally 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.
Why Smeeth hosts choose us
- No surprises in your quote
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- We cover Smeeth and the whole of Kent
Take a look at our pricing and what a fish and chip van costs.
Smeeth for film and TV crews
Smeeth is about 5 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. We serve shoots at drives, car parks, yards and venues around Smeeth and the surrounding area. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
Smeeth is roughly 53 miles from central London. For cast and crew travelling by train, Westenhanger station is about 3.6 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Smeeth, so check vehicle rules with locations.
We serve shoots across TN25 and the streets around it. Whether your shoot is on Church Road, Caroland Close and Woolpack Hill or a nearby road, we’ll bring the van to you. If your venue is just outside Smeeth, we also cover Ridgeway (1 mile west), Brabourne Lees (1 mile north-east), Lilyvale (1 mile south-east), Bircholt Forstal (1 mile north-east) and Stone Hill (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ashford (5 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north) and Hythe (6 miles south-east).
A little further out are Lympne Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and William Harvey Hospital (2.6 miles north-west). The countryside around Smeeth includes Hatch Park.
What happens on the day
We get there well before service, park the van and get the fryers going. Crew typically gather round the hatch as soon as we open. In December, daylight in Smeeth ends around 3:50pm, so a late lunch or wrap at base needs lighting. In summer, light lasts until about 9:15pm.
- 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.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Before we arrive
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We will send a clear quote that says what’s included.
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