Kent · England
Funeral and wake catering in Shipbourne, Kent
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Book fish and chips for the wake in Shipbourne.
- Anniversary memorials
- Pub wakes
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
Planning an event in Shipbourne?
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Shipbourne
Fish and chips is informal, which suits a wake where people move around and talk. Whether it’s small family memorials and gatherings at home after a funeral, we can cook gravy, mushy peas and cod and chips.
In rural Shipbourne, home or the hall is usual, with the van in the yard or car park. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Occasions we serve in Shipbourne
It can be a fitting tribute.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Shipbourne book the van for events such as:
- Pub wakes
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Gatherings after the committal
- Anniversary memorials
If relatives are coming by rail, the closest railway station is Borough Green & Wrotham station, roughly 3.3 miles north of the centre.
Before you book anyone
- Any minimum charge
- The cancellation terms
- The deposit and payment dates
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What a fish and chip van costs
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Numbers
- The date and time of year
- Cod, haddock or both
- Whether a minimum applies
A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- Your date and serving time
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Anything awkward about the way in
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
FAQs for Shipbourne
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 will work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Shipbourne?
Borough Green & Wrotham station, about 3.3 miles north of the centre.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. We will agree arrival and serving times with you so food is ready when you want it.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac guests when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
What if timings change?
Of course. We serve when people are ready.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
Usually, if it is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so have a hard-surface back-up.
What does the van need?
Level, firm ground the van can reach, close to where people will eat, and space for a queue. Tell us about gates, lanes and soft ground.
Planning the van’s spot
We will agree the van’s spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
- Flat, firm ground for the van
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
Wake catering near Shipbourne
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. Around Shipbourne, we park wherever there is level, firm ground. Shipbourne is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 24 miles away.
For a service at a church like Church of St Giles, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Shipbourne; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
We take the van to wakes all over the TN11 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane; a wake on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Other places close to Shipbourne we cover include Budds (1 mile west), Yopps Green (1 mile north), Sheet Hill (2 miles north), Ivy Hatch (2 miles north) and Coldharbour (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (3 miles south).
A little further out are Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Shipbourne includes Barden Lake.
- Local schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (2.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Chaser Public House (less than half a mile west)
The process
Because we cook inside the van, rain does not stop us. Guests will still appreciate a bit of cover near the hatch. Summer evenings in Shipbourne stay light until about 9:20pm, while winter afternoons darken by about 3:55pm, so plan lighting near the door.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks, and how it gets in.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Share the timings for the day
How to get a price
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we’ll check availability right away.
Planning help
Looking after everyone
Allergies are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
- Name a contact for the day who isn’t close family
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Ensure older relatives can sit
Seats for older guests near the hall or house help.
Some families add a favourite dessert or cake.
A chip van compared with other options
Some venues offer wake menus. A van works at home or at a hall. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Bookings across Kent, including Shipbourne
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
Read our prices page and the cost guide.
About the food
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it is lovely with a pie.
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it’s especially welcome on a cold day.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will confirm what we can provide.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Places near Shipbourne
More for events in Shipbourne
- 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