Kent · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Claygate, Kent
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: a fish and chip van for your event in Claygate and the surrounding area.
- Horse and dog shows
- School summer fairs
- Community festivals
Planning an event in Claygate?
How our fish and chip van for events works in Claygate
School fairs and sports days work well with a chip van, once the school agrees where the van goes. On the menu are cod and chips, mushy peas and chips, and we are often booked for village fêtes and summer fairs and crew and volunteer catering.
At a field event near Claygate, power and water may be limited; let us know and we’ll plan for it. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
Claygate events: pitches and permissions
Claygate is about 7 miles south-west of Maidstone, in Kent. Tell us where your event in Claygate will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Claygate is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. We serve events right across the region, from Claygate to Canterbury (28 miles away).
A summer fête at Church of St Margaret is the classic setting for a fish and chip van. Events in and around the High Weald National Landscape, within about 7 miles of Claygate, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
We cover events in every part of TN12. Whether your event is on Sheephurst Lane, Maidstone Road and Spenny Lane or anywhere nearby, we can park up and fry there. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Pearson's Green (1 mile south-west), Marden Beech (2 miles south-east), Marden (2 miles east), Queen Street (2 miles north-west) and Castle Hill (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (7 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (14 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles west), Tonbridge (8 miles west), Kings Hill (7 miles north) and Foley Park (8 miles north-east).
A little further out are South East Romany Museum (2.7 miles east).
- Nearby, you will find The White Hart pub (within half a mile west)
Claygate questions
Which station is closest to Claygate?
Marden station, about 1.8 miles east of the centre.
Do you come to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac visitors when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
Do you cover Claygate?
Yes, we do. We serve events in Claygate and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
Where do you take the van?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Claygate.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All the cooking happens in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site and we’ll confirm what we need.
What about visitors who don’t eat fish?
Yes: sausages and pies, with chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, and serve straight from the hatch.
Allergies and dietary needs
Allergies are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Have other stalls for special diets
- Tell us about the pitch
- Agree how we’ll be paid: pitch fee, share of takings or minimum
- Share any nut or allergy policies
At the end, we pack down and leave the pitch clean.
A spot near the entrance or main ring works well.
Places near Claygate
Other occasions in Claygate
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is generally the easier option.
The process
Setting up takes a little while, because the oil has to come up to temperature, so we are there in good time before you want to eat. December events in Claygate lose the light at about 3:55pm, so we need a lit pitch; spring events have light until about 8:50pm by late May.
- You send us the event details and pitch information.
- We confirm the date, what we need on the pitch and any documents.
- We set up before the gates open.
- We trade from the hatch all event, frying to order.
- At the end, we pack up and leave the pitch tidy.
Before we arrive
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Keep space clear for visitors at the hatch
How to get a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
Food your guests will love
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the classic side with fish and chips.
Gravy
Gravy brings a bit of warmth to the meal, especially in winter.
Events we cater in Claygate
Rain doesn’t stop the fryers.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. In Claygate, people book us for occasions like:
- Horse and dog shows
- Church fêtes
- Sports days
- Community open days
For visitors coming by rail, the closest railway station is Marden station, roughly 1.8 miles east of the centre.
Comparing caterers
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- VAT, if it applies
- Whether there is a minimum
- The deadline for final numbers
What affects the price in Claygate
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- The minimum booking
- How easy the site is to reach
- Cod, haddock or both
- Service time
Dates make a difference: peak summer weekends and Christmas party Fridays book up first. It is worth asking early.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- A picture of where the van would go
- The address or venue name
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Why choose a fish and chip van in Claygate?
One good hot-food van can be enough at a smaller event, with cakes and teas alongside. Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, along with distance and access to the site. Every booking gets its own quote.
Why Claygate hosts choose us
- All the chip-shop extras
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
See our pricing or the cost guide.
Space, access and the venue
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but there are a few things to check:
- Details of any power or water on site
- Space for a queue away from paths
- A clear route onto the pitch
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Curry sauce
- Chips
- 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