Kent · England
Funeral and wake catering in Coldharbour, Kent
Funeral and wake catering in Coldharbour: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, then handed over hot from the hatch.
- Small family memorials
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Remembrance gatherings
A chip van near Coldharbour
Funeral and wake catering in Coldharbour, cooked to order
We understand that timings on the day can move, so we stay flexible. Popular choices include sausage and chips, mushy peas and pie and chips, and typical bookings are for family meals after the service and pub wakes.
Near Coldharbour, wakes are often at home or in the hall. Let us know about access. We keep the menu short: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
What affects the price in Coldharbour
Your quote will be clear. What affects it most:
- Distance and any road charges
- The minimum booking
- The day of the week
- Parking and the way in
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu and timing to match. Keeping the menu short is usually the best value.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Your date and serving time
- The address or venue name
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Where the van would park
We only need a few details to quote: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, use our quote form.
What comes out of the fryer
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. We batter it and fry it to order.
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.
A chip van compared with other options
Making food yourself for a wake is a lot to take on. A van takes that off your hands. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your wake is.
What you get with us
- We cover Coldharbour and the whole of Kent
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
Read our prices page and the cost guide.
Wakes in Coldharbour: venues and practical details
Coldharbour is about 2 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. Wakes in Coldharbour are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a parking spot and fresh frying on the day. Coldharbour is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we bring the van. Our nearest city page is London, about 24 miles away.
For a service at a church like Parish Church of St John, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Here we cover the TN11 postcode area, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. If your venue is just outside Coldharbour, we also cover Hildenborough (1 mile south-west), Hilden Park (1 mile south), Watt's Cross (1 mile west), Budds (1 mile north) and Stocks Green (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (12 miles east), Dartford (15 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (6 miles south), Gravesend (15 miles north) and Northfleet (15 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Tonbridge Castle (2.2 miles south) and The Milne Museum (2 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Tudeley Woods RSPB reserve and Barden Lake.
- Schools near Coldharbour include Hugh Christie Technology College (1.4 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Flying Dutchman Public House (1 mile south-west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues set rules for catering vans: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll work through them with you.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Sending people up in groups helps.
Also near Coldharbour
Also in Coldharbour
Step by step
There’s very little for you to do on the day: show us the spot, tell us when to start, and enjoy your wake. The frying and serving are down to us. Late-December sunset in Coldharbour is about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:20pm.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
How to prepare
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
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 we will reply with a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Where the van can park in Coldharbour
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- Access wide and high enough for the van
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before booking.
From the hatch
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
Allergies and dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Keep the serving time flexible
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
- Ask the venue about the van
Afterwards, we leave quietly.
A favourite cake can be a lovely touch.
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Coldharbour?
It works for everyone.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Remembrance gatherings
- Wakes at home
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is Hildenborough station, roughly 1.6 miles south-west of the centre.
Comparing caterers
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- The van’s size and access needs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
Questions from Coldharbour
How far is Coldharbour from London?
About 24 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Which station is closest to Coldharbour?
The closest is Hildenborough station, roughly 1.6 miles away.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
It depends on numbers, the menu and how people arrive. Give us your numbers and service window, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Can the wake be at home?
Yes, if there is somewhere level and firm to park the van close to the house.
Where can the van park?
Not much: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a picture.
What if timings change?
Of course. We serve when people are ready.
Is there something for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers, and we’ll include them in the plan.
Can the van park on grass?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we’ll advise.
- 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