Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Hockenden
Funeral and wake catering in Hockenden: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, then handed over hot from the hatch.
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- A wake at the family home
A chip van near Hockenden
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Hockenden
After a funeral, people want somewhere to gather and something comforting to eat. Fish and chips is familiar and comforting. Typical bookings include gatherings after scattering ashes and a tribute meal, serving pie and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
Near Hockenden, wakes are frequently at home or in the hall. Let us know about access. Your quote spells out what’s included: the date, the service time and the menu.
How the day works
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. In Hockenden, it is dark by about 7:05pm in late September and 3:55pm in December.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your wake, and we will come back with availability and a quote.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. We suggest:
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Name a contact for the day who isn’t close family
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Some families add a favourite dessert or cake.
What a fish and chip van costs
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How many people are eating
- The day of the week
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The menu and how many choices
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- A picture of where the van would go
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- The venue or postcode
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
After a funeral in Hockenden
Hockenden is about 2 miles north-east of Orpington, in Kent. Bookings in Hockenden come in all shapes and sizes, but it always starts the same way: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We take the van to 922 places in Kent. We serve events right across the region, from Hockenden to London (about 13 miles away).
If the funeral is at a church such as St Mary the Virgin, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Hockenden; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
This part of Kent takes in BR8, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. Other places close to Hockenden we cover include Upper Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Stonehill Green (1 mile north-east), Ruxley (1 mile north-west), Puddledock (2 miles north-east) and Hextable (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Dartford (4 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (8 miles south), Gravesend (10 miles east), Tonbridge (15 miles south), Northfleet (9 miles east) and Kings Hill (14 miles south-east).
A little further out are London Borough of Bromley Museum (2.6 miles south-west) and Eynsford Castle (3.4 miles south-east). The countryside around Hockenden includes The Warren and Summer Hill.
- Local schools include Orchards Academy (0.9 miles south-east)
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
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.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Perfect for your wake in Hockenden
It needs no kitchen at the hall or home.
Here are some of the occasions we serve in Hockenden and Kent:
- Family meals after the service
- Wakes at venues
- A wake at the family home
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is Swanley station, roughly 1 mile south-east of the centre.
Comparing caterers
- How many hours the van serves
- The deadline for final numbers
- How allergens are handled
- Whether travel is included
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Hockenden
What’s the nearest station to Hockenden?
Swanley station, about 1 mile south-east of the centre.
Do you come to venues in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you need. Give us your date, numbers and serving time and we will reply with a price.
Can a friend deal with you?
Yes, many families prefer that.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Give us your numbers and service window, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Tell us about any coeliac guests and we’ll explain the options before you book.
How long are you on site?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We confirm all the timings beforehand.
What if we only have street parking?
It depends on the road. A drive, car park or yard is typically easier; for the street, check the council’s rules.
About the food
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Where the van can park in Hockenden
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. These are the things we check:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Hockenden
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
Also near Hockenden
More for events in Hockenden
Organising for someone else?
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
- 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