Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Bowmans events
Funeral and wake catering in Bowmans: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, and served hot from the hatch.
- Village hall wakes
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Gatherings after the committal
Funeral and wake catering for Bowmans events
How the day works
Serving is straightforward: everything is handed over hot from the hatch, and people can eat where they like. When service is finished, we pack up and leave the pitch tidy. In summer, a wake in Bowmans has light until about 9:20pm, while winter afternoons darken by about 3:50pm.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- Show us where the van would go, and we’ll confirm it works.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
How to prepare
- Share the timings for the day
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Related guides
Funeral and wake catering in Bowmans, fried fresh
We cook as people come up, after a long, cold day. We’re frequently asked to cater village hall wakes and a tribute meal, with gravy, sausage and chips and haddock and chips.
Around Bowmans, wakes are frequently at the village hall, a pub or home. Let us know where the van can go. We keep the menu short: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
Perfect for your wake in Bowmans
There is little waste, because food is cooked to order.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Celebrations of life
- Remembrance gatherings
A club or hall near Bowmans gives space for everyone and parking for the van.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether there’s a minimum
- The deadline for final numbers
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- If the price includes VAT
How we price fish and chips for the wake
We will give you a clear quote. What affects it most:
- The menu and how many choices
- Parking and the way in
- How many people are eating
- Distance and any road charges
Larger groups generally cost less per head, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Where the van would park
- A photo of the space and the way in
- The date and when you’d like to eat
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, along with your serving time, and we’ll reply with a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Nearby places to Bowmans
More for events in Bowmans
Allergies and dietary needs
Allergies are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Build in time for delays
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Ask the venue about the van
Remember the journey from the service.
Somewhere quiet to sit helps some guests.
For planners, venues and organisers
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
Questions from Bowmans
Can you serve after a service at St Barnabas?
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 generally elsewhere. Send us the address.
What’s the nearest station to Bowmans?
Crayford station, about 0.6 miles north of the centre.
What if timings change?
Yes. We start when you’re ready.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes, always. We fry to order in the van at your venue, and serve straight from the hatch.
Where can the van park?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, near your guests, with room for a queue at the hatch. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
Is there something for children?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Timings are agreed in advance.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac guests when you enquire, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible.
A closer look at the menu
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, great with chips and sausages.
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
After a funeral in Bowmans
Bowmans is about 2 miles west of Dartford, in Kent. Whether your wake is in the middle of Bowmans or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: fish and chips fried to order, served hot and quoted clearly. Bowmans is one of 922 places in Kent where we bring the van. Our bookings stretch from Bowmans to London (about 13 miles away).
Families holding a service at St Barnabas often gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park. Relatives arriving by train should know that Crayford station is about 0.6 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Bowmans; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
We cover wakes in every part of the DA1, DA2 and DA5 postcode area. Whether your wake is on Swan Lane, Dale Road and Ross Road or a nearby road, we can park up and fry there. Bowmans is on the A2018, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van. If your venue is just outside Bowmans, we also cover Wilmington (1 mile south), Crayford (1 mile north), Coldblow (1 mile west), Joyden's Wood (1 mile south-west) and Barnes Cray (1 mile north-east). We also serve nearby towns such as Sevenoaks (11 miles south), Gravesend (9 miles east), Northfleet (7 miles east), Swanley (3 miles south), Kings Hill (15 miles south-east) and Swanscombe (5 miles east).
A little further out are Bexley Museum (1.1 miles north-west) and Broadway Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). Within reach you’ll find Wansunt Pit.
- Local schools include Wilmington Grammar School for Girls (0.8 miles south-east) and St Columba's Catholic Boys' School (1.4 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include Bird in Hand pub (0.8 miles north-east)
- Local facilities include Colyers (2.2 miles north)
DIY versus a fish and chip van
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Planning the van’s spot
Plenty of places work for the van, but there are a few things to check:
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
- 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