Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Willesborough
From the first sizzle in the fryer to the last chip, fish and chips for the wake turns food into part of your wake in Willesborough.
- Life celebrations
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
Funeral and wake catering in Willesborough
About our funeral and wake catering in Willesborough
Fish and chips is informal, which suits a wake where people move around and talk. We’re frequently asked to cater life celebrations and small family memorials, with haddock and chips, sausage and chips and cod and chips.
In Willesborough, the hall is often where people gather, and its car park suits the van. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your wake, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
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.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
After a funeral in Willesborough
Willesborough is about 1 mile east of Ashford, in Kent. We serve wakes at homes, halls, workplaces and venues in Willesborough and nearby villages. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 13 miles away.
With the A2070 nearby, it is easy for family travelling by car to reach Willesborough. After a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Willesborough, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Wherever your wake is in TN24, we can fry fresh for your guests. We can serve a wake on streets such as Mead Road, Mill Lane and Milne Road, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. You’ll find Willesborough on the A2070, which makes the journey straightforward. We also bring the van to wakes in South Willesborough (1 mile south-west), Newtown (1 mile south-west), Ashford (1 mile west), Finberry (1 mile south) and Park Farm (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Canterbury (13 miles north-east), Folkestone (12 miles east), Faversham (12 miles north), Hythe (9 miles south-east), Davington (12 miles north) and Preston (12 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include William Harvey Hospital (0.8 miles east) and Ashford Designer Outlet (0.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Hatch Park.
- Local schools include The North School (0.5 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The William Harvey Public House (less than half a mile south-east)
About the food
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion, so we bring it along.
Looking after everyone
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. Our advice:
- Build in time for delays
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Choose a friend to be our contact
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
Afterwards, we leave quietly.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
Willesborough questions
Can you serve after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
What’s the nearest station to Willesborough?
Ashford International station, about 0.9 miles west of the centre.
Is short notice a problem?
Wakes are often arranged quickly, so send us the date and we’ll answer right away.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
What does it cost to hire the van?
We quote for each booking, based on your numbers and timings. Tell us your date and rough numbers for a clear quote.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
No, not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do before you book.
How fast is service?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Give us your numbers and service window, and we’ll plan to keep the queue moving.
Where can the van park?
Not much: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a picture.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Preparing food yourself adds to a hard day. We do the cooking. Larger groups generally cost less per head, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For a crowd, a van is typically simpler.
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
How we price fish and chips for the wake
The same numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How many people are eating
- The length of service
- The day of the week
- Whether a minimum applies
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The date and time of the event
- Where you’d like the van to go
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Expected numbers
Still finalising the details? That’s fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
What happens on the day
Setting up takes a little while, because the oil has to come up to temperature, so we always arrive well ahead of your serving time. In winter, it is dark in Willesborough by about 3:50pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:15pm.
- The family or funeral director sends us the date, place and numbers.
- We check where the van can park and send a clear price.
- We agree a time to arrive and when food should be ready, allowing for the service running over.
- On the day we set up quietly and serve when guests are ready.
- When everyone has eaten, we clear up and go.
How to prepare
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
Thinking about fish and chips for the wake for your wake in Willesborough? Send us the details and we will come back with a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
The van has to be able to get in and park safely, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A short walk from the party
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
From the hatch
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
Towns and villages near Willesborough
Also in Willesborough
- 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