Medway · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Hempstead, Medway
Fried to order and served hot: a fish and chip van for your event in Hempstead and the surrounding area.
- Community open days
- Country shows
- Crew and volunteer catering
Book the van in Hempstead
Fish and chip van for events in Hempstead, cooked to order
Organisers can book us as a trader, or to feed crew and volunteers, or both. Whether it’s crew and volunteer catering and community open days, we can cook haddock and chips, sausage and chips and mushy peas and more.
Around Hempstead, a fête or summer fair suits fish and chips. Tell us about the pitch, ground and access. We cook inside the van, right where your visitors are, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, a facilities manager or an organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Other occasions in Hempstead
Planning the van’s spot
We’ll be honest if a spot will not work. What matters most:
- A wet-weather pitch on hard standing
- Information about power and water
- Confirmation the van can trade there
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
From the hatch
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Chips
- Curry sauce
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
Prices and what affects them
Every booking is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long we serve
- How easy the site is to reach
- How far we travel
- Numbers
A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The venue or postcode
- The date and time of the event
- Expected numbers
- A photo of the parking spot
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. A photo of the spot helps too. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
How it works
From set-up to the last portion, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. At midsummer, events in Hempstead stay light until about 9:15pm, which helps evening trading. Winter fairs, dark by about 3:50pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- 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 are done.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Clear the route for the van
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
Get a quote
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.
Planning help
FAQs for Hempstead
Which station is closest to Hempstead?
The closest is Rainham (Kent) station, roughly 2.1 miles away.
Is Hempstead close to London?
About 30 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you serve children?
Of course. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
How long will the queue be?
Keeping choices simple and sending people up in groups helps. Tell us your timings and we will advise.
What can visitors choose from?
Chip-shop favourites: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Our menu has the details.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Can the van park on grass?
Often, if the ground is firm and dry. Soft, wet ground can trap any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
How long does set-up take?
We get there in good time to set up. Timings are agreed in advance so food is ready when you want it.
Should I sort the food myself?
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. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
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 usually the easier option.
Why choose a fish and chip van in Hempstead?
At a small fête, one good trader may be all you need, with cakes and teas alongside. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why book our van in Hempstead
- Events in Hempstead and across Medway
- Something for visitors to gather round
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
Planning for dietary needs
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Display allergens for each stall
- Share pitch details
- Offer a choice of traders where you can
- Settle the pitch terms early
When the event closes, we pack up.
Let visitors know there’s a chip van.
Event catering near Hempstead
Hempstead is about 2 miles south of Gillingham, in Medway. For an event in Hempstead, we can park on a drive, a car park, a yard or firm, dry grass. Hempstead is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Hempstead to Canterbury (23 miles away).
For visitors coming by rail, Rainham (Kent) station is about 2.1 miles away. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as All Saints Church, a chip van adds hot food to the cakes and tombola. Within about 7 miles is the Kent Downs National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
This part of Medway takes in ME7 and ME8, and we can serve your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Harrow Road, Spekes Road and Capstone Road, and the van can serve an event on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Hempstead is on the A278, which makes the journey straightforward. Other places close to Hempstead we cover include Capstone (1 mile north-west), Darland (1 mile north-west), Wigmore (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north-west) and Park Wood (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (5 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Chatham Waterfront (3 miles north-west), Rochester Riverside (4 miles north-west) and Peters Village (5 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find Pentagon Shopping Centre (3 miles north-west) and Medway megaliths (3.8 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Nearby schools include Rainham School for Girls (1.3 miles north-east) and Howard School (1.3 miles north-east)
A closer look at the menu
Pie and chips
Pie and chips gives people a filling alternative to fish.
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it is lovely with a pie.
- 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