Medway · England
Funeral and wake catering in St Mary Hoo, Medway
Fried to order and served hot: fish and chips for the wake in St Mary Hoo and across Medway.
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- A tribute meal
- Life celebrations
A chip van near St Mary Hoo
Funeral and wake catering in St Mary Hoo, fried fresh
We understand that timings on the day can move, and we will work around the service and the family. We serve pie and chips, cod and chips and sausage and chips, and typical bookings are for gatherings at a village hall or club and remembering a loved one’s favourite food.
In rural St Mary Hoo, home or the hall is usual. You’ll know what’s included before you book: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed.
Organising for someone else?
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Sending people up in groups helps.
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.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works at home or at a hall. Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Classic food your guests already know
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
Take a look at how we price or our guide to van hire costs.
St Mary Hoo: halls, homes and travel
St Mary Hoo is in Medway. Give us the address of your wake in St Mary Hoo, and we’ll plan access and set-up. We take the van to 68 places in Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. Our bookings stretch from St Mary Hoo to Canterbury (about 24 miles away).
This part of Medway takes in ME3. If your venue is just outside St Mary Hoo, we also cover Fenn Street (1 mile south-west), High Halstow (1 mile south-west), Sharnal Street (2 miles south-west), Tunbridge Hill (2 miles south) and Kingsnorth (2 miles south). We also serve nearby towns such as Gillingham (6 miles south), Chatham (8 miles south), Rochester (6 miles south-west), Rainham (7 miles south), Strood (7 miles south-west) and Luton (7 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Bay Museum (3.6 miles north) and Medway Maritime Hospital (6 miles south-west). Open spaces near St Mary Hoo include Bishop Saltings.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
Before you choose a spot
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. These are the things we check:
- Confirmation that the van can park there
- Lighting nearby for evening events
- Access wide and high enough for the van
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
From the hatch
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
The process
The smell of the fryers does the inviting. Each piece of fish is battered and fried to order, and chips are fried in batches through service. Late-December sunset in St Mary Hoo is about 3:50pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- Show us where the van would go, and we’ll confirm it works.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Clear the route for the van
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
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Planning for dietary needs
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Keep the serving time flexible
- Check the hall or venue allows a catering van
When everyone has eaten, we pack up quietly.
A table of photos helps people talk.
Why choose funeral and wake catering in St Mary Hoo?
It works for everyone, from children to older relatives.
The van suits big events and small ones. Typical bookings include:
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after the committal
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Wakes at home
Families holding a service at Church of St Mary frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
What to look for in a quote
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- How allergens are handled
- Whether travel is included
- When payment is due
What comes out of the fryer
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it is especially welcome on a cold day.
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, perfect with chips or a sausage.
Towns and villages near St Mary Hoo
Other occasions in St Mary Hoo
St Mary Hoo questions
Is St Mary Hoo too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is St Mary Hoo close to London?
About 30 miles from central London.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Do you fry it on site?
It is. The fryers are in the van, so it is fried on the spot, rather than made in advance.
What food do you serve?
Fish and chips, of course, with sausages and pies for anyone who doesn’t want fish. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Can someone else arrange it?
Yes. We’re happy to deal with the funeral director or a family friend.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Not as standard: batter is typically made with wheat flour. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do.
Is there a non-fish option?
Yes: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
- 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