Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Palm Bay events
Funeral and wake catering in Palm Bay: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, and served hot from the hatch.
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Village hall wakes
Planning an event in Palm Bay?
How our funeral and wake catering works in Palm Bay
The wake can be at home, at a village hall or club, or at a venue with space outside. We’re frequently asked to cater wakes at a pub or venue with outside space and celebrations of life, with cod and chips, pie and chips and mushy peas.
For a wake near Palm Bay, a farmhouse or village hall frequently works well. We keep the menu short: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. Here are a few tips:
- Ask the venue about the van
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Plan for a few extra people
- Plan seating for older guests
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Have napkins and bins ready.
Also near Palm Bay
Also in Palm Bay
Wake catering near Palm Bay
Palm Bay is about 1 mile north-east of Margate, in Kent. Bookings in Palm Bay come in all shapes and sizes, but it always starts the same way: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. Palm Bay is one of 922 places in Kent where we bring the van. Our bookings stretch from Palm Bay to Canterbury (about 16 miles away).
If relatives are coming by rail, the nearest station is Margate station, about 1.8 miles west. A club or hall near Palm Bay gives space for everyone and parking for the van, with the van in the car park. The coast is within about 2 miles of Palm Bay, and for many families fish and chips brings back memories of the seaside.
For wakes in CT9, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many guests. That could mean a wake at a home on Omer Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Simon Avenue or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. For wakes just outside Palm Bay, we cover Cliftonville (1 mile south-west), Northdown (1 mile south-east), Kingsgate (1 mile south-east), St Peter's (2 miles south) and Broadstairs (2 miles south). We also serve nearby towns such as Ramsgate (4 miles south), Deal (12 miles south), Herne Bay (12 miles west), Walmer (13 miles south), St Lawrence (4 miles south) and Newington (3 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Margate West (2.8 miles west) and Public Library & Museum (Camborne) (1.1 miles west).
- Nearby schools include Hartsdown Academy (2.1 miles south-west)
What a fish and chip van costs
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Distance and any road charges
- How easy the site is to reach
- The date and time of year
- How many people are eating
Larger groups generally 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.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- The address or venue name
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Questions from Palm Bay
Is Palm Bay too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Can you serve after a service at St Philip?
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. Tell us where you’ll gather.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear the van’s area after service. Let us know about bins for guests.
Does the batter contain gluten?
No, not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Tell us about any coeliac guests and we will explain the options before booking.
Do you bring everything you need?
All the cooking happens in the van. Tell us about power, water and bins at the site and we will confirm what we need.
How much space do you need?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, with room for a queue at the hatch. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook inside the van, so rain doesn’t stop us. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, and serve straight from the hatch.
A chip van compared with other options
Sandwiches are traditional at wakes. Hot food can be more welcome. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your wake is.
Why book with us
- Events in Palm Bay and across Kent
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- Hot food handed straight over
See our prices page or the cost guide.
Who books funeral and wake catering in Palm Bay?
Nothing is wasted on an uncertain number of guests.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Palm Bay and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Family meals after the service
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Anniversary memorials
- A wake at the family home
If the funeral is at a church such as St Philip, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Comparing caterers
- How many hours the van serves
- A clear list of what’s included
- How late numbers can change
- Whether there is a minimum
A closer look at the menu
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the classic side with fish and chips.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
What happens on the day
The first sign we’ve arrived is generally the smell, about the time the first guests wander across. From then on, people come up as they’re ready. A wake in Palm Bay in late autumn or winter may run into the dark, with sunset about 7:00pm in late September and 3:50pm in December.
- You share your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Preparing for the day
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Clear the route for the van
How to get a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your wake, and we’ll come back with availability and a quote.
Planning help
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
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.
Working with your venue
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll work through them with you.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
- 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