Kent · England
Film and TV set catering in Swanton, Kent
Fried to order and served hot: a fish and chip van for the crew in Swanton and across Kent.
- Location shoots
- Crew treats on long shoot days
- Wrap celebrations
A chip van near Swanton
How our film set catering works in Swanton
Fried-to-order service suits a lunch break, with no kitchen needed on site. We serve pie and chips, cod and chips and sausage and chips, and we’re frequently booked for commercials and music videos and unit base lunches.
Near Swanton, crews may be miles from anywhere to eat, so lunch at base matters. We keep the menu short: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
How it works
We don’t cook ahead. Fish is battered and fried when people come up to the hatch, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. At midsummer, Swanton has light until about 9:20pm, while by late September it is nearer 7:00pm.
- We start with a few details about your shoot.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- Timings and the van’s spot are agreed in advance.
- We cook to order on the day for the crew.
- Everything goes out hot from the hatch, and we pack up afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the timings for the day
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
How to get a price
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Lighting for early or late service
- Permission for the van at base
- Room for the crew to queue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we serve
- Pie and chips
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
Swanton questions
Is Swanton too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
How far is Swanton from London?
About 26 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you bring everything you need?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
What if lunch moves?
Schedules move, and we plan for it. Keep us updated and we will adapt.
Can the van come to Swanton?
Yes, we do. We serve events in Swanton and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
What does the van need?
Level, firm ground the van can reach, near your crew, with room for a queue at the hatch. Tell us about gates, lanes and soft ground.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you need. Tell us your date and rough numbers for a clear quote.
What paperwork do you provide?
Tell us what the production needs and we will confirm what we can provide.
Planning for dietary needs
Nearly every event has some special diets. To look after them:
- Plan an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
- Collect diets and allergies with crew details
- Put allergy details in writing
- Let us know about coeliac disease
Lunch is planned around the call sheet, and a contact keeps us updated.
A chip van wrap party is a great way to finish a shoot.
Nearby places to Swanton
More for events in Swanton
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
For a crew lunch people will remember, a chip van is hard to beat. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Why book our van in Swanton
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- A van that becomes part of the event
Take a look at our prices page and the cost guide.
For event organisers in Swanton
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Swanton? A fish and chip van draws people in and almost everyone likes it. Give us the details and we will suggest how it could work.
Parks, greens and streets generally need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
Takeaway run or book a van?
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 typically the easier option.
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Why choose film set catering in Swanton?
It is quick to serve within a lunch break with a short menu.
The van suits big events and small ones. Common bookings include:
- Unit base lunches
- Wrap celebrations
- Treat days on a long shoot
- Photo shoots
Central London is about 26 miles from Swanton, within easy reach for London-based crews.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- The van’s size and access needs
- How allergens are handled
- The service time, and the cost of running over
What comes out of the fryer
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. It is the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion, so we bring it along.
Planning a shoot in Swanton
Swanton is about 5 miles north-east of Tonbridge, in Kent. Whether your shoot is in the middle of Swanton or on the outskirts, the service works the same way: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. Swanton is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we bring the van. You can also see our page for London, about 26 miles away.
For cast and crew travelling by train, Wateringbury station is about 3 miles away. Within reach of Swanton are historic houses such as Old Soar Manor (1.5 miles west) and Ightham Mote (3.7 miles west). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations.
We take the van to shoots all over the ME18 postcode area and the streets around it. We also bring the van to shoots in West Peckham (1 mile south), New Pound (1 mile north-east), Mereworth (1 mile east), Herne Pound (1 mile north-east) and Roughway (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (8 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (7 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (9 miles south-west), Gravesend (12 miles north) and Tonbridge (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Beechin Wood Archery Museum (2 miles north-west) and Ightham Court (3.8 miles north-west).
- Local pubs include Swan on the Green pub (0.7 miles south)
- 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