Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Bidborough
Funeral and wake catering in Bidborough: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
- Life celebrations
- A tribute meal
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Funeral and wake catering in Bidborough
How our funeral and wake catering works in Bidborough
Your funeral director or a family friend can deal with us directly, so you have one less thing to do. Typical bookings include gatherings at a village hall or club and family gatherings after a burial or cremation, with mushy peas, sausage and chips and haddock and chips.
Near Bidborough, wakes are often at home or in the hall. Let us know about access. Everything is fried fresh at your wake, not cooked earlier and kept warm, and handed over as soon as it’s ready.
Arranging a wake in Bidborough
Bidborough is about 3 miles north-west of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. For a wake in Bidborough, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around Bidborough. Bidborough is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 27 miles away.
If relatives are coming by rail, Leigh (Kent) station, about 2.1 miles north-west, is the nearest station.
Wakes anywhere in TN3 and TN4 start with a parking spot for the van. Streets in the area include High Street, Rectory Drive and Glebelands, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. For wakes just outside Bidborough, we cover Stockland Green (1 mile south), Printstile (1 mile west), Southborough (1 mile south-east), Speldhurst (1 mile south-west) and Lower Haysden (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (14 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (3 miles south-east), Tonbridge (3 miles north-east), Kings Hill (10 miles north-east) and Foley Park (15 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Tonbridge Cottage Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Tonbridge Castle (2.5 miles north-east). The countryside around Bidborough includes Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
- Nearby schools include St Gregory's Catholic School (1.6 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Beehive Public House (0.7 miles south-east)
Takeaway run or book a van?
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the wake.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Cod, haddock or both
- Parking and the way in
- How long we serve
A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
Not sure of numbers yet? That is fine: give us a rough idea and the date, and we’ll quote on that. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Parks, greens and streets usually need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
What happens on the day
We don’t cook ahead. Each portion is battered and fried as it is ordered, so it’s as fresh as from any chip shop. Late-December sunset in Bidborough is about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:20pm.
- The family or funeral director sends us the date, place and numbers.
- We check where the van can park and send a clear price.
- We plan a flexible serving time around the service.
- We park discreetly and fry fresh as people arrive.
- We pack up when everyone has eaten and leave quietly.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Ensure the van can get in
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and you will get a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Common questions in Bidborough
Do you come out to small places like Bidborough?
No, we come to small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Is Bidborough close to London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
It depends on the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and send a picture if you can.
Do you have allergen information?
We provide allergen information for everything we serve. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Tell us about allergies in advance.
What do we need to supply?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we will confirm the rest.
Who clears up?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for guests are worth planning.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Give us your numbers and service window, and we will plan service around it.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All the cooking happens in the van. Tell us about power, water and bins at the site.
Food your guests will love
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, perfect with chips or a sausage.
Places near Bidborough
What else we do in Bidborough
Who books funeral and wake catering in Bidborough?
It needs no kitchen at the hall or home.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Family meals after the service
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
- Small family memorials
After a service at Parish Church of St Lawrence, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Comparing caterers
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- How many hours the van serves
- If the price includes VAT
- How late numbers can change
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Sandwiches are traditional at wakes. Hot food can be more welcome. Most vans have a minimum charge, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Why book our van in Bidborough
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- A quote that spells everything out
Planning the van’s spot
Before the day, we will agree where the van parks. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- A short walk from the party
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
What we serve
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- 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