Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Brabourne Lees
Funeral and wake catering in Brabourne Lees: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch at the time you choose.
- Family meals after the service
- A tribute meal
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Fresh fish and chips in Brabourne Lees
Wake catering near Brabourne Lees
Brabourne Lees is about 5 miles east of Ashford, in Kent. Across the TN25 area, we can fry fresh for your guests. We serve 922 places across Kent. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 12 miles away.
Relatives arriving by train should know that Westenhanger station, about 3.4 miles south-east, is the nearest station. Brabourne Lees is within about 5 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
Wakes anywhere in TN25 start with a parking spot for the van. Streets in the area include Knatchbull Way, Mountbatten Way and Prospect Way, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Close by, we cover wakes in Smeeth (1 mile south-west), Lilyvale (1 mile south-east), Bircholt Forstal (1 mile north), Ridgeway (1 mile west) and Stone Hill (1 mile south-east). We also serve nearby towns such as Ashford (5 miles west), Canterbury (12 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles east), Folkestone (9 miles east), Faversham (14 miles north) and Hythe (6 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find Lympne Castle (4.2 miles south-east) and William Harvey Hospital (2.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Brabourne Lees include Hatch Park and Tolsford Hill.
About our funeral and wake catering in Brabourne Lees
We serve wakes at homes, halls, clubs and venues. We’re frequently asked to cater wakes at church halls and clubs and scattering of ashes gatherings, serving gravy, mushy peas and cod and chips.
For a wake near Brabourne Lees, a farmhouse or village hall often works well, with the van in the yard or car park. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, not cooked earlier and kept warm, and served the moment it comes out of the fryer.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Compared with a buffet, a van gives everyone a hot meal, which helps when numbers are hard to predict. A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We will send you a quote.
Why Brabourne Lees hosts choose us
- Hot food handed straight over
- No surprises in your quote
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
Take a look at how we price and what a fish and chip van costs.
What happens on the day
Nothing gathers a crowd like the smell of fish and chips. Each piece of fish is battered and fried to order, and chips are fried in batches through service. A wake in Brabourne Lees in late autumn or winter may run into the dark, with sunset about 7:00pm in late September and 3:50pm in December.
- It starts with the date, where the wake is and roughly how many.
- We check the spot for the van and send a quote.
- Timings allow for the service and travel from it.
- On the day we set up quietly and serve when guests are ready.
- When everyone has eaten, we clear up and go.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Name one person we can call on the day
How to get a price
Still finalising the details? That’s fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we will firm it up nearer the time. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
What comes out of the fryer
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips is the go-to for anyone who isn’t a fish fan, especially with curry sauce.
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it is lovely with a pie.
Common questions in Brabourne Lees
Can you serve after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
Is Brabourne Lees too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Do you do anything other than fish?
There is: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Tell us roughly how many to expect.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes, always. Everything is fried fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
What if the service runs late?
Of course. We start when you’re ready.
What’s on the menu?
Proper fish and chips, with sausages and pies for anyone who doesn’t want fish. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Is grass a problem?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Let us know what the ground is like, and send a photo if you can.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook inside the van, so rain doesn’t stop us. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Prices and what affects them
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- How long we serve
- How many people are eating
Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- A picture of the space and the way in
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Where the van would park
- The date and time of the event
Thinking about fish and chips for the wake for your wake in Brabourne Lees? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Working with your venue
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. Ask us for a quote and compare.
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Events we cater in Brabourne Lees
It needs no kitchen at the hall or home.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Brabourne Lees book the van for occasions like:
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Pub wakes
- A wake at the family home
- Life celebrations
After a service at Church of St Mary, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
What your quote should include
- If the price includes VAT
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether travel is included
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
Planning for dietary needs
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Allow a little extra
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Plan seating for older guests
Allow time for travel from the service, crematorium or burial ground.
A quiet room away from the crowd is a kindness.
Places near Brabourne Lees
Other occasions in Brabourne Lees
- 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