Kent · England
Funeral and wake catering in Elham, Kent
Fried to order and served hot: fish and chips for the wake in Elham and the surrounding area.
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Celebrations of life
Planning an event in Elham?
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Elham
The wake can be at home, at a village hall or club, or at a venue with space outside, wherever the van can park. Popular choices include pie and chips, mushy peas and cod and chips, and we are regularly asked to cater wakes at church halls and clubs and a favourite meal in someone’s memory.
In a small place like Elham, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Let us know about access. You will know what’s included before booking: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed.
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Check the hall or venue allows a catering van
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Let us know of any allergies
- Check the hall has an urn
Afterwards, we leave quietly.
Somewhere quiet to sit helps some guests.
Before you choose a spot
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
What we serve
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
Elham: halls, homes and travel
Elham is about 5 miles north-west of Folkestone, in Kent. Anywhere in CT4, we can bring the van to you. Elham is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 9 miles away.
Relatives arriving by train should know that Sandling station is about 4.7 miles away. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about a mile of Elham; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural. The coast is within about 6 miles of Elham, and for many families fish and chips brings back memories of the seaside.
Anywhere in CT4, we can bring the van to you. That could mean a wake at a home on High Street, Pound Lane and Vicarage Lane or the roads around them, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Swingfield Minnis (2 miles east), Densole (3 miles south-east), Selsted (3 miles east), Breach (3 miles north-east) and Lodge Lees (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Ashford (11 miles west), Canterbury (9 miles north), Dover (8 miles east), Folkestone (5 miles south-east), Whitstable (14 miles north) and Deal (13 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Royal Victoria Hospital (5.3 miles south-east) and Elham Valley Countryside Centre And Railway Museum (3.7 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Cheriton Hill.
- Nearby, you will find The King's Arms (less than half a mile north-east)
What affects the price in Elham
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The length of service
- How far we travel
- The number of meals
- The date and time of year
Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Where the van would park
- A picture of where the van would go
- The date and time of the event
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
Still finalising the details? No problem: tell us the basics about your wake, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, fill in our quote form.
The process
We arrive on time, parks where we agreed and the hatch goes up. When the fryers are up to heat, service starts right on schedule. Sunset in Elham is about 7:00pm in late September and about 3:50pm in December; ensure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Share the timings for the day
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We will send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Read more
What else we do in Elham
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Elham?
It needs no kitchen at the hall or home.
Whatever the occasion in Elham, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We are often booked for:
- Pub wakes
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Families holding a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if plans change
- Whether VAT is included
- Travel, tolls and road charges
The menu, dish by dish
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans, and they’re on the menu.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is normally the easier option.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and you get to enjoy the day.
Questions from Elham
Can the van go to venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Can you serve after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
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 usually elsewhere. Tell us where you will gather.
What’s on the menu?
The classics: cod, haddock, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Our menu has the details.
Do you do anything other than fish?
There is: sausages and pies, with chips. Tell us roughly how many to expect.
How long will the queue be?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we’ll plan to keep the queue moving.
Can you cater a wake at short notice?
Ask as soon as you have the date. We’ll let you know quickly.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, that the van can reach easily. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you cover Elham?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Elham is within our area. To check your date, use our quote form.
- 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