Medway · England
Funeral and wake catering in Strood, Medway
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Strood and across Medway.
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Family meals after the service
- Celebrations of life
Funeral and wake catering for Strood events
Funeral and wake catering in Strood, cooked to order
Wakes are rarely planned months ahead, so ask as soon as you have the date. Typical bookings include a wake at the family home and celebrations of life, with gravy, mushy peas and pie and chips.
In a town like Strood, a wake at the family home or the local hall is common. We park on the drive or in the hall car park. Your quote spells out what’s included: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed, with no surprises on the day.
Strood: your questions answered
Is Strood close to London?
Roughly 26 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Which station is closest to Strood?
The closest is Strood station, roughly 1 mile away.
What about guests who do not eat fish?
Sausage and chips and pie and chips are on the menu. Tell us about other diets and we’ll tell you what we can offer.
Do you have allergen information?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Send us any allergies in writing.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Do you take everything away?
We pack up and leave the pitch tidy when service is finished. Let us know about bins for guests.
Is short notice a problem?
Ask as soon as you have the date. We will tell you straight away whether we are available.
Does the batter contain gluten?
No, not as standard: batter is typically made with wheat flour. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do.
What affects the price in Strood
These are the factors that matter most:
- How far we travel
- Numbers
- Parking and the way in
- How long we serve
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. A short menu is frequently the best value.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Where the van would park
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many people, including children
Not sure of numbers yet? That is fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Perfect for your wake in Strood
For some families, it was a favourite meal.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Strood book the van for events such as:
- Gatherings after the committal
- Village hall wakes
- Small family memorials
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
If the funeral is at a church such as St Francis' Church, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if plans change
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- If the price includes VAT
- Payment terms and deposit
How the day works
Rain does not stop the fryers, because the cooking happens inside the van. It is worth thinking about cover for the queue, though. Summer evenings in Strood stay light until about 9:20pm, but in December it is dark by about 3:50pm, so plan lighting near the door.
- 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.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Preparing for the day
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Name one person we can call on the day
Getting a price
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers, timings and travel. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Wake catering near Strood
Strood is about 3 miles north-west of Chatham, in Medway. In and around Strood, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field. Strood is one of 68 places in Medway we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 26 miles away.
With the A2 and A226 nearby, it is easy for family travelling by car to reach Strood. If there is not room at home, a hall or club near Strood may suit.
We serve wakes across the ME2, ME1 and ME3 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Ash Road, Gun Lane and Pine Road, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Main roads around Strood include the A2 and A226, which makes travel to your wake easy. If your venue is just outside Strood, we also cover Rochester (1 mile east), Borstal (1 mile south), Cuxton (2 miles south-west), Lower Bush (2 miles south-west) and Upper Bush (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Gillingham (4 miles east), Chatham (3 miles south-east), Rainham (6 miles east), Luton (3 miles south-east), Park Wood (6 miles south-east) and Lordswood (5 miles south-east). Strood is one of the larger places we cover in Medway, with lots of choice for wakes.
A little further out are Six Poor Travellers House (1.2 miles east) and French Hospital (1.2 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Rede Common and Gad's Hill.
- Nearby schools include Strood Academy (0.6 miles north-west) and Temple School (1.2 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find Crispin And Crispianus Public House (0.6 miles east)
- Local facilities include City of Rochester-upon-Medway (0.9 miles east)
Is a fish and chip van right for your wake?
Many wakes have sandwiches and cake. Hot food can be more welcome. The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. Every booking gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- We cover Strood and the whole of Medway
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
Take a look at our prices page or what a fish and chip van costs.
Should I sort the food myself?
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is normally the easier option.
Organising for someone else?
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.
Venues often 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 will work through them with you.
Planning for dietary needs
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Build in time for delays
- Have chairs for those who need them
- Ask the venue about the van
Remember the journey from the service.
Tea and coffee from the hall’s urn, or a friend’s tea table, goes well alongside.
What comes out of the fryer
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it is hot, crisp and generous.
Also near Strood
What else we do in Strood
- 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