Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Smarden events
We bring fish and chips for the wake to Smarden and nearby, cooking to order on site.
- Memorial gatherings
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Gatherings after the committal
Funeral and wake catering for Smarden events
About the food
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it is lovely with a pie.
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s the favourite in much of the south. It’s battered and fried to order, so it’s crisp when it reaches you.
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Smarden
Someone else can make the booking for you. Popular choices include mushy peas, gravy and haddock and chips, and typical bookings are for scattering of ashes gatherings and wakes at venues.
Near Smarden, wakes are frequently at home or in the hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
Allergies and dietary needs
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. Here are a few tips:
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
- Plan seating for older guests
- Choose a friend to be our contact
- Plan for a few extra people
Seats for older guests near the hall or house help.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
Perfect for your wake in Smarden
There is no kitchen work for anyone.
Whatever brings people together, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We regularly serve:
- A wake at the family home
- Anniversary memorials
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after the committal
For a service at a church like Church of St Michael, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
What your quote should include
- Whether there is a minimum
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- How many hours the van serves
- How much space the van takes up
Step by step
When we arrive, we position the van, set up the hatch and get the fryers up to temperature. Once we are hot, we cook to order, so we time it to your schedule. In autumn and winter, it is dark early in Smarden; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- First, tell us about your wake.
- We check the date and where the van will park, then send a quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- On the day, we park up and fry fresh for family and friends.
- Everything goes out hot from the hatch, and we pack up afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Share the timings for the day
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
How to get a price
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Wakes in Smarden: venues and practical details
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. Whether your wake is in the middle of Smarden or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. Smarden is one of 922 places in Kent where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Smarden to Canterbury (19 miles away).
If relatives are coming by rail, Pluckley station is about 2.6 miles away. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Smarden, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
This part of Kent takes in TN27, so your wake can be anywhere in it. Your wake could be at a house on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane, wherever the van can park. If your venue is just outside Smarden, we also cover Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
- Local pubs include The Chequers Inn (under half a mile south)
Why choose a fish and chip van in Smarden?
Some venues offer wake menus. A van works where they do not, or at home. Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book our van in Smarden
- Events in Smarden and across Kent
- A menu almost everyone likes
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
- Hot food handed straight over
Take a look at our pricing and what a fish and chip van costs.
What a fish and chip van costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Your choice of menu
- Whether a minimum applies
- The date and time of year
- How long we serve
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- A photo of the parking spot
- Roughly how many people, including children
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Your date and serving time
Send us the date, the address or TN27 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat, and we’ll reply with a quote. Just use our quote form.
Takeaway run or book a van?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
Common questions in Smarden
Can the van go to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is Smarden too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
How do we estimate numbers?
It is hard to know, so a rough number is fine. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
Can you park on the road outside?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we will confirm the rest.
Can you come to the house?
Yes, with a suitable spot for the van.
Do you bring everything you need?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You provide a suitable spot and permission to park.
Can the van park on grass?
It depends on the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we’ll advise.
Towns and villages near Smarden
Also in Smarden
Before you choose a spot
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We need:
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- Access wide and high enough for the van
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Smarden
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- 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