Kent · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Smarden, Kent
We bring a fish and chip van for your event across Smarden and Kent, frying fresh at your venue and serving from the hatch.
- Fish and chip supper nights
- Sports club events and race days
- Festivals
Book the van in Smarden
Fish and chip van for events in Smarden, cooked to order
Few things draw a crowd at a fête or festival like the smell of fish and chips. Organisers get a trader almost everyone is happy to queue for. Whether it’s country shows and club open days, we will put together a menu of chips, haddock and chips and cod and chips for your guests.
For a village fête or field event near Smarden, a chip van brings hot food to a rural site. Ground and access matter, so tell us about them. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat bookings, such as regular staff lunches or annual fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Having the party at home? Send us a picture of the drive or the spot and the way in, and we will tell you honestly whether it works.
Occasions we serve in Smarden
It suits almost every visitor.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Smarden and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Agricultural and country shows
- Club open days
- Sports days
- Food for volunteers
PTAs at schools such as Smarden Primary School often want one reliable hot-food stall.
Before booking anyone
- Allergen information for each item
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- When final numbers are due
- The van’s size and access needs
Step by step
We get there well before service, park the van and get the fryers going. Visitors typically gather round the hatch once service starts. Summer events in Smarden have daylight until about 9:15pm at midsummer and about 7:00pm by late September, so evening trading normally finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter fairs, dark by about 3:50pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- You send us the event details and pitch information.
- We confirm availability, our pitch needs and anything the event asks for.
- We set up before the gates open.
- We fry to order and serve from the hatch through the event.
- At the end, we pack up and leave the pitch tidy.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Name one person we can call on the day
Ask for a quote
We only need a few details to quote: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Whether a minimum applies
- How easy the site is to reach
- Cod, haddock or both
- How many people are eating
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. Every booking gets its own quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- A photo of the parking spot
Thinking about a fish and chip van for your event for your event in Smarden? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Where the van can park in Smarden
We’ll be honest if a spot won’t work. The main points are:
- Firm, level ground for the pitch
- A queue area clear of rides and games
- Details of any power or water on site
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
From the hatch
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Curry sauce
- Mushy peas
- Chips
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For a crowd, a van is normally simpler.
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.
Places near Smarden
Also in Smarden
Food your guests will love
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. It’s battered and fried to order.
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it’s lovely with a pie.
Fairs, fêtes and events in Smarden
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. People in Smarden book us for all sorts of reasons, but the plan is always the same: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent. We serve events right across the region, from Smarden to Canterbury (19 miles away).
A summer fête at Church of St Michael is the classic setting for a fish and chip van. For visitors coming by rail, the closest railway station is Pluckley station, roughly 2.6 miles east of the centre. Within about 8 miles is the High Weald National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Events anywhere in TN27 start with a parking spot for the van. That could mean an event at a home on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane or the roads around them, as long as there is somewhere for the van. We also bring the van to events in Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also take the van to Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
- Local pubs include The Chequers Inn (within half a mile south)
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Most events have a burger van. A chip van gives visitors something different. Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
What you get with us
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Quick service from the hatch
- No surprises in your quote
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
Take a look at our pricing or our guide to van hire costs.
Smarden questions
Can the van go 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.
What’s the nearest station to Smarden?
Pluckley station, about 2.6 miles east of the centre.
Who clears up?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for visitors are worth planning.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
No, not as standard: batter is typically made with wheat flour. Tell us about any coeliac visitors and we’ll explain the options.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Visitors will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Do you cover Smarden?
We do. We serve events in Smarden and across Kent. Send us your date to check availability.
What are the terms for events?
That varies: a pitch fee, a share of takings or a guaranteed minimum. We will agree terms before the day.
Do you do festivals?
Tell us the date and pitch details and we will check.
- 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