Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Bearsted events
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, fish and chips for the wake makes the food a highlight of your wake in Bearsted.
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
Funeral and wake catering in Bearsted
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Bearsted
Someone else can make the booking for you, so you have one less thing to do. On the menu are haddock and chips, cod and chips and pie and chips, and typical bookings are for family gatherings after a burial or cremation and wakes at church halls and clubs.
Around Bearsted, wakes are frequently at the village hall, a pub or home. Tell us about parking for the van. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Should I sort the food myself?
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. Ask us for a quote and compare.
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
Planners, venues and businesses
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
What happens on the day
We need time before service to bring the fryers up to heat, so we are there in good time before you want to eat. Sunset in Bearsted is about 7:00pm in late September and about 3:50pm in December; make sure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- You, or your funeral director, tell us the date, the place and rough numbers.
- We check the spot for the van and send a quote.
- We agree a time to arrive and when food should be ready, allowing for the service running over.
- We serve calmly from the hatch when everyone is ready.
- Afterwards we pack up quietly and leave the spot tidy.
How to prepare
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
Getting a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your wake in Bearsted, and we’ll come back with availability and a quote.
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What a fish and chip van costs
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Your choice of menu
- Access and parking
- Service time
- Distance and any road charges
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- The address or venue name
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Rough numbers for adults and children
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and we’ll reply with a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Events we cater in Bearsted
It takes one job off a very long list.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Bearsted book the van for occasions like:
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Memorial gatherings
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Village hall wakes
Families holding a service at Holy Cross Church often gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
Comparing caterers
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- Whether VAT is included
- What the price includes, item by item
- Payment terms and deposit
Space, access and the venue
We’ll agree the van’s spot with you before the day. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- Access wide and high enough for the van
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
Common questions in Bearsted
Can you serve after a service at Holy Cross Church?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is normally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Is Bearsted close to London?
About 33 miles from central London.
How do you handle allergies?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Tell us about allergies in advance.
How long will the queue be?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. We will talk it through when we quote.
Is short notice a problem?
Wakes are often arranged quickly, so send us the date and we will answer right away.
Can our funeral director book for us?
Yes, that is common.
What does the van need?
Not much: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you take everything away?
We pack up and leave the pitch tidy when service is finished. Let us know about bins for guests.
Bearsted: halls, homes and travel
Bearsted is about 2 miles east of Maidstone, in Kent. We serve wakes at homes, halls, workplaces and venues in Bearsted. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We serve events right across the region, from Bearsted to Canterbury (22 miles away).
If relatives are coming by rail, Bearsted station serves Bearsted directly. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Bearsted; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
Wakes anywhere in ME14 and ME15 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many guests. We can serve a wake on streets such as The Street, Tower Lane and Roseacre Lane or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Weavering (1 mile west), Grove Green (1 mile north-west), Caring (1 mile south-east), Thurnham (1 mile north-east) and Willington (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Sittingbourne (9 miles north-east), Gravesend (14 miles north-west), Tonbridge (14 miles west), Faversham (14 miles east), Northfleet (15 miles north-west) and Minster (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include KIMS hospital (1.2 miles north-west) and The Mall Maidstone (2 miles west). Open spaces near Bearsted include Detling Hill.
- Local schools include Valley Park School (1.6 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Kentish Yeoman pub (less than half a mile south)
Towns and villages near Bearsted
Other occasions in Bearsted
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. A few tips:
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Tell us about any close family with allergies
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Somewhere quiet to sit helps some guests.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Many wakes have sandwiches and cake. Hot food can be more welcome, especially in winter. The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. Every booking gets its own quote.
Why us?
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- No surprises in your quote
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
Take a look at our prices page and our guide to van hire costs.
- 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