Kent · England
Funeral and wake catering in Hartley, Kent
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Hartley and the surrounding area.
- Family meals after the service
- Wakes at venues
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
Book the van in Hartley
Arranging a wake in Hartley
Hartley is about 8 miles south-east of Paddock Wood, in Kent. Across the TN17 area, we can bring the van to you. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. We serve events right across the region, from Hartley to Canterbury (about 28 miles away).
The High Weald National Landscape is within about 2 miles of Hartley; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
We serve wakes across TN17 and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Hartley Road, Campion Crescent and Hartley Court Gardens, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Swattenden (1 mile east), Cranbrook (1 mile north-east), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-east), Gill's Green (2 miles south) and Beal's Green (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Maidstone (13 miles north), Royal Tunbridge Wells (11 miles west), Tonbridge (13 miles north-west), Kings Hill (14 miles north), Foley Park (14 miles north) and Paddock Wood (8 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Benenden Hospital (4.7 miles east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.8 miles north-east).
Funeral and wake catering in Hartley, fried fresh
Food is fried to order, so it is hot when people arrive. For celebrations of life and gatherings after scattering ashes, we can cook sausage and chips, pie and chips and cod and chips.
In rural Hartley, home or the hall is usual, with the van in the yard or car park. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we’ll be straight with you about what we can do before you book.
Space, access and the venue
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Lighting nearby for evening events
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Hartley
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
How we price fish and chips for the wake
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, because of:
- Parking and the way in
- Your choice of menu
- The number of meals
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
Larger groups normally cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
A chip van compared with other options
For a simple, comforting meal at a wake, fish and chips from a van works well in Hartley. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why book with us
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
- A quote that spells everything out
See our pricing and our guide to van hire costs.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
For a small group, making your own food can work. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, 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’s crisp.
Planning for dietary needs
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Ask the venue about the van
- Plan seating for older guests
- Allow for the service running over
Give us a contact for the day who isn’t a close family member.
A tea table run by a friend is a comfort.
Step by step
We arrive on time, pulls onto the spot you’ve chosen and the hatch goes up. When the fryers are up to heat, service starts at the time you asked for. In Hartley, it’s dark by about 7:00pm in late September and 3:55pm in December.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A photo of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
- Let us know the serving time
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
Get a quote
Each quote is put together for your wake. Start with your date, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
For event organisers in Hartley
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
What else we do in Hartley
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Hartley?
It can be a fitting tribute.
In Hartley and nearby, the van turns up at all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Life celebrations
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- VAT, if it applies
- How late numbers can change
- What the price includes, item by item
Questions from Hartley
Do you come to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Could you trade in Crane Valley?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
Do you take everything away?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for guests are worth planning.
What about guests who don’t eat fish?
Yes: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
What does the van need?
Level, firm ground the van can reach, near your guests, with room for a queue at the hatch. Tell us about gates, lanes and soft ground.
Is short notice a problem?
Ask as soon as you have the date. We’ll let you know quickly.
Do you come to Hartley?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Hartley is within our area and the rest of Kent. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Do you fry it on site?
It is. We cook inside the van, so it’s fried on the spot, rather than made in advance.
- 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