Kent · England
Funeral and wake catering in Swanton, Kent
A menu everybody knows: fish and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Book fish and chips for the wake in Swanton.
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Small family memorials
- Remembrance gatherings
Book the van in Swanton
How our funeral and wake catering works in Swanton
We serve wakes at homes, halls, clubs and venues, wherever the van can park. For gatherings after the committal and wakes at church halls and clubs, we’ll put together a menu of sausage and chips, mushy peas and pie and chips and more.
For a wake near Swanton, a farmhouse or village hall often works well, with the van in the yard or car park. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Swanton: halls, homes and travel
Swanton is about 5 miles north-east of Tonbridge, in Kent. Wherever your wake is in the ME18 area, we’ll come to your venue, home or workplace. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent. We serve events right across the region, from Swanton to London (26 miles away).
If relatives are coming by rail, the closest railway station is Wateringbury station, roughly 3 miles east of the centre.
Wakes anywhere in ME18 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many guests. We also bring the van to wakes in West Peckham (1 mile south), New Pound (1 mile north-east), Mereworth (1 mile east), Herne Pound (1 mile north-east) and Roughway (1 mile west). Further out, we also take the van to Maidstone (8 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north-west), Sevenoaks (7 miles west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (9 miles south-west), Gravesend (12 miles north) and Tonbridge (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Beechin Wood Archery Museum (2 miles north-west) and Ightham Court (3.8 miles north-west).
- Local pubs include Swan on the Green pub (0.7 miles south)
Prices and what affects them
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The minimum booking
- Numbers
- Service time
Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, along with distance and access to the site. Every booking gets its own quote.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- A picture of where the van would go
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- The date and time of the event
We only need a few details to quote: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, use our quote form.
Places near Swanton
What else we do in Swanton
Occasions we serve in Swanton
It’s warm, simple food that almost everyone enjoys.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Swanton book the van for occasions like:
- Wakes at venues
- Life celebrations
- A tribute meal
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
After a service at Church of St Dunstan, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- What happens if plans change
- When payment is due
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
Is a fish and chip van right for your wake?
Some venues offer wake menus. A van works where they don’t, or at home. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. A short menu is frequently the best value.
What you get with us
- A clear quote before you book
- No kitchen needed
- All the chip-shop extras
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
See our pricing or the cost guide.
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
The process
If the plan changes on the day, a quick word is all it takes: we can start a little later or slow the pace to suit your wake. In autumn and winter, it’s dark early in Swanton; ensure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
How to prepare
- Share the timings for the day
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
Ask for a quote
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: give us a rough idea and the date, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Planning for dietary needs
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Mention allergies you know about
- Make sure older relatives can sit
Give us a contact for the day who isn’t a close family member.
Some families add a favourite dessert or cake.
FAQs for Swanton
What’s the nearest station to Swanton?
The closest is Wateringbury station, roughly 3 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Swanton?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
How many people should we cater for?
It’s hard to know, so a rough number is fine. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
Can you cook in the rain?
We carry on in the rain, because the cooking happens inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
Is there something for children?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
How long will the queue be?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. Tell us your timings and we’ll advise.
Do you do anything other than fish?
Yes: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
Where the van can park in Swanton
Plenty of places work for the van, but there are a few things to check:
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- A clear area by the serving hatch
- Flat, firm ground for the van
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Swanton
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
The menu, dish by dish
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it is lovely with a pie.
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it’s the favourite in much of the south. We batter it and fry it to order.
- 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