Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Smarden Bell
Funeral and wake catering in Smarden Bell: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, and served hot from the hatch.
- Small family memorials
- Memorial gatherings
- Village hall wakes
A chip van near Smarden Bell
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Smarden Bell
Sometimes fish and chips was the favourite meal of the person being remembered, which makes it a fitting tribute. Typical bookings include village hall wakes and remembrance gatherings, with sausage and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
In a small place like Smarden Bell, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Planning the van’s spot
If a spot isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
From the hatch
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
Places near Smarden Bell
Also in Smarden Bell
Arranging a wake in Smarden Bell
Smarden Bell is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. For a wake in Smarden Bell, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around Smarden Bell. Smarden Bell is one of 922 places in Kent we cover. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 20 miles away.
Families holding a service at Church of St Michael often gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Smarden Bell; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
This part of Kent takes in TN27, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. From Bell Lane and Headcorn Road or anywhere nearby, we can park up and fry there. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Swift's Green (1 mile north), Smarden (1 mile south-east), Biddenden Green (1 mile east), Monk's Hill (1 mile south) and Lashenden (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (10 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Romden Castle (1.8 miles south-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (2.8 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The Bell Inn (within half a mile south)
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Smarden Bell?
There is no kitchen work for anyone.
The van suits big events and small ones. Typical bookings include:
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
If relatives are coming by rail, Headcorn station is about 2 miles away.
What your quote should include
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- Payment terms and deposit
- The service time, and the cost of running over
- Exactly what’s included in the price
For planners, venues and organisers
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.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work through them with you.
About the food
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, great with chips and sausages.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans, and they’re on the menu.
Smarden Bell questions
We are gathering after a service at Church of St Michael: can you come?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is generally elsewhere. Tell us where you will gather.
How far is Smarden Bell from London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London.
How quickly can you come?
Wakes are often arranged quickly, so send us the date and we’ll answer straight away.
Can the wake be at home?
Yes. Tell us about parking at the house.
Can you be flexible on the day?
Yes. We start when you’re ready.
What can guests choose from?
Proper fish and chips, with sausages and pies for anyone who does not want fish. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
It depends on numbers, the menu and how people arrive. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Can our funeral director book for us?
Yes, many families prefer that.
How the day works
A typical booking goes like this: we arrive, park up and set up, the fryers heat up, and food goes out hot at the agreed time. In summer, a wake in Smarden Bell has light until about 9:15pm, but in December it is dark by about 3:50pm.
- 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.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Preparing for the day
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, along with your serving time, and we will reply with a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Should I sort the food myself?
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. Ask us for a quote and compare.
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is usually simpler.
Allergies and dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
- Name a contact for the day who isn’t close family
- Ask the venue about the van
- Ensure older relatives can sit
Make sure older relatives can sit to eat.
A table of photos helps people talk.
Why choose a fish and chip van in Smarden Bell?
Compared with a buffet, fish and chips is hot and simple, which helps when numbers are hard to predict. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Smarden Bell hosts choose us
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Classic food your guests already know
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- We cover Smarden Bell and the whole of Kent
Read our pricing or the cost guide.
- 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