Kent · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Shipbourne, Kent
Bring the chip shop to your event in Shipbourne. The van arrives, the fryers go on and everything is cooked to order, so every portion goes out hot.
- Food for volunteers
- Sports days
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
A chip van near Shipbourne
Fish and chip van for events for your event in Shipbourne
We trade at village fêtes, school fairs, sports days, festivals and shows. For sports days and community open days, we will put together a menu of sausage and chips, mushy peas and curry sauce and more.
For a village fête or field event near Shipbourne, a chip van brings hot food to a rural site. Ground and access matter, so tell us about them. We plan the timings around your day, so the food is ready when you want to eat.
Allergies and dietary needs
We need to know about dietary needs and allergies in advance, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer. To get it right:
- Have other stalls for special diets
- Give us an idea of numbers
- Ensure allergen information is available
- Plan crew and volunteer food times
At the end, we pack down and leave the pitch clean.
Put the van near the entrance or the tea tent.
Nearby places to Shipbourne
Other occasions in Shipbourne
How the day works
Changes on the day are fine: we can start a little later or slow the pace to suit your event. In Shipbourne, a midsummer event stays light until about 9:20pm, but by late September the light goes at about 7:00pm.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
How to get a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Event catering near Shipbourne
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. Whether your event is in the middle of Shipbourne or on the outskirts, the service works the same way: fish and chips fried to order, served hot and quoted clearly. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. We serve events right across the region, from Shipbourne to London (about 24 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Shipbourne School, are a natural fit for a fish and chip van. An event in Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve means agreeing traders and vehicle routes with the landowner, generally the council. Within about 8 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 Kent takes in TN11. That could mean an event at a home on Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane, wherever the van can park. Other places close to Shipbourne we cover include Budds (1 mile west), Yopps Green (1 mile north), Sheet Hill (2 miles north), Ivy Hatch (2 miles north) and Coldharbour (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (3 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Barden Lake.
- Nearby schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (2.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Chaser Public House (under half a mile west)
Where the van can park in Shipbourne
If a spot isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you. What matters most:
- Vehicle access before the gates open and after they close
- A wet-weather pitch on hard standing
- Confirmation the van can trade there
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
From the hatch
- Chips
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Curry sauce
- Haddock and chips
Who books fish and chip van for events in Shipbourne?
It needs little from volunteers.
Whatever brings people together, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We regularly serve:
- Summer fairs
- Food for volunteers
- School summer fairs
- Country shows
For anyone arriving by train, Borough Green & Wrotham station is about 3.3 miles away.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- When payment is due
- Whether travel is included
- What the van needs: space, access, power
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van solves that by cooking on site.
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the event.
Shipbourne: your questions answered
Could you trade in Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them first.
Can the van go to venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we’ll advise.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. We cook inside the van, so it is fried on the spot, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Can you serve children?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays and Christmas party Fridays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Can you cook in the rain?
The weather does not stop the van, because the cooking happens inside. Soft ground after heavy rain is the bigger issue, so have a hard-surface spot in mind.
Can you cater for allergies?
Tell us about allergies when you book, and we’ll tell you what’s in each item.
The menu, dish by dish
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it’s especially welcome on a cold day.
Prices and what affects them
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The length of service
- Parking and the way in
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The venue or postcode
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- A picture of where the van would go
Each quote is put together for your event. Start with your date, and we will check availability straight away.
A chip van compared with other options
For a reliable crowd-pleaser, a fish and chip van is a great choice in Shipbourne. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your event is.
Why Shipbourne hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Classic food your visitors already know
- 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