Kent · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire in Tovil
Bring the chip shop to your event in Tovil. We park up, heat the fryers and cook to order, so every portion goes out hot.
- Festive get-togethers
- Visits to care homes and day centres
- Village fêtes and school fairs
A chip van near Tovil
Planning a chip van in Tovil
Tovil is about 1 mile west of Maidstone, in Kent. We cover Tovil as standard, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. Tovil is one of 922 places in Kent where we bring the van. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 25 miles away.
Historic houses near Tovil include Stoneacre (3.1 miles east). Estates like these tend to have strict rules for vans, so check before you book. For anyone arriving by rail, the closest railway station is Maidstone West station, roughly 0.5 miles north-east of the centre. Tovil is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and some venues there have rules about vehicles on site. Check your venue’s rules on catering vans.
Here we cover the ME16 and ME15 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Tovil Road, Wharf Road and Bower Lane; an event on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Maidstone (1 mile east), Foley Park (2 miles north-east), Penenden Heath (2 miles north-east), Shepway (2 miles south-east) and Ringlestone (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Sittingbourne (11 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (14 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles south-west), Gravesend (13 miles north-west), Tonbridge (11 miles south-west) and Northfleet (14 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Kent Fire Brigade Museum (under half a mile south-east) and Allington Castle (2 miles north). Open spaces near Tovil include Boxley Hills and Burham Down.
- Nearby schools include Oakwood Park Grammar School (0.6 miles north-west) and St Augustine Academy (0.6 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The White Horse Public House (0.7 miles north)
Fish and chip van hire for your event in Tovil
Rain does not stop a fish and chip van, because the fryers are inside. That makes it a safe bet for British events. Typical bookings include gatherings after a funeral and christmas parties, with sausage and chips, curry sauce and cod and chips.
In and around Tovil, homes and village halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the route. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Looking after everyone
Tell us about dietary needs and allergies early, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer. To get it right:
- Keep the menu short to keep the queue moving
- Arrange an alternative for anyone we can’t cater for
- Add an allergy question to your invitations
- Plan bins near the queue
Keep the menu short and the queue moves quickly, especially when everyone wants to eat at once.
Tables or benches nearby help people eat comfortably.
Is a fish and chip van right for your event?
Next to a hog roast, a fish and chip van gives people a choice of fish, sausage or pie, which helps if some guests don’t eat pork. Larger groups typically cost less per head, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why book our van in Tovil
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- No surprises in your quote
- All the chip-shop extras
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
How we price a fish and chip van
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Whether a minimum applies
- Your choice of menu
- Travel, tolls and road charges
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. Every booking gets its own quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of the space and the way in
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Expected numbers
- Allergies and diets you know about
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Also near Tovil
What else we do in Tovil
Planning the van’s spot
The right spot keeps everyone safe and the service smooth. We need:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Tovil
- Chips
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Curry sauce
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
Should I sort the food myself?
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is generally simpler.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
What happens on the day
Rain does not stop the fryers, because the cooking happens inside the van. It’s worth thinking about cover for the queue, though. Around midsummer it stays light in Tovil until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting by the van.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for your guests.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Before we arrive
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A photo of the spot helps too. To send your details, use our quote form.
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Tovil: your questions answered
Is Tovil close to London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you come to venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Can you serve children?
Children are very welcome. Tell us how many children, and we will include them in the plan.
How long will the queue be?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Give us your numbers and service window, and we’ll plan service around it.
What do you bring?
All the cooking happens in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
Is everything cooked fresh?
It is. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Where can the van park?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, that the van can reach easily. If in doubt, send a picture.
Cod or haddock?
Both are on our menu; tell us which you’d like for your event.
The menu, dish by dish
Cod and chips
Cod and chips is the meal most people picture when they think of a chip shop. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it’s hot, crisp and generous.
Curry sauce
Some people won’t eat chips without curry sauce and it’s on the menu.
Events we cater in Tovil
There is no kitchen needed, so it is at home in car parks, yards and fields where plated meals are hard.
In Tovil and nearby, the van turns up at all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Weddings, especially the evening
- Staff lunches and team days
- Garden get-togethers
- Care home visits
For a fundraiser at a school like Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, the van can trade from a pitch agreed with the school.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if plans change
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- If the price includes VAT
- 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