Reading · England
Film and TV set catering in Arborfield Garrison, Reading
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Film set catering in Arborfield Garrison.
- End-of-shoot parties
- Location filming
- Stills shoots
A chip van near Arborfield Garrison
Film set catering in Arborfield Garrison, fried fresh
Food is fried to order, so it is hot when the break is called. Typical bookings include outside broadcasts and commercials and music videos, serving mushy peas, cod and chips and sausage and chips.
Shoots around Arborfield Garrison frequently use houses, farms and lanes. Let us know about access. We keep the menu short: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
How the day works
We need a level, firm place to park the van, close to where people will eat, and we agree exactly where before the day. Sunset in Arborfield Garrison is about 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; for dawn calls or late wraps, plan lighting at base.
- We start with a few details about your shoot.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- On the day, we park up and fry fresh for the crew.
- Everything goes out hot from the hatch, and we pack up afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Let us know the serving time
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
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About the food
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it goes perfectly with a pie.
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. It’s the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
Planning a shoot in Arborfield Garrison
Arborfield Garrison is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Reading. In and around Arborfield Garrison, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field. Arborfield Garrison is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover. You can also see our page for Reading, about 6 miles away.
Historic houses near Arborfield Garrison include Stratfield Saye House (4.8 miles south-west). If you are shooting at a historic house, the van will need a base agreed with the property. For crew arriving by train, Wokingham station, about 3.2 miles north-east, is the nearest station.
We take the van to shoots all over RG2 and RG40 and the streets around it. Local streets include Rowcroft Road, Lance Way and Infirmary Court; a shoot on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Neighbouring places where we serve shoots include Langley Common (1 mile north), California (1 mile east), Barkham (1 mile north-east), Eversley (2 miles south) and Lower Common (2 miles south). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (7 miles north-west), Norcot (8 miles north-west), West Reading (6 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (8 miles north-west), Shinfield (3 miles north-west) and Caversham Heights (8 miles north-west). Arborfield Garrison is one of the larger places we cover in Reading, with lots of choice for shoots.
Other landmarks nearby include Wokingham Hospital (3 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (3.6 miles west). Open spaces near Arborfield Garrison include The Marshes Local Nature Reserve and Horseshoe Lake.
- Schools near Arborfield Garrison include Farley Hill Primary School (1 mile south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Bramshill Hunt pub (under half a mile north-west)
For planners, venues and organisers
Parks, greens and streets usually need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Is a fish and chip van right for your shoot?
Long shoots usually need a full catering unit. A van is great for short jobs and crew treats. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest how to make it work. A short menu is often the best value.
Why book our van in Arborfield Garrison
- A clear quote before you book
- All the chip-shop extras
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- Classic food your crew already know
Take a look at how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
Also near Arborfield Garrison
What else we do in Arborfield Garrison
What a fish and chip van costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The date and time of year
- Any minimum charge
- Distance and any road charges
- Access and parking
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Your date and serving time
- A picture of where the van would go
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Expected numbers
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Planning the van’s spot
Before the day, we will agree where the van parks. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Away from the shooting area’s sound
- The location’s agreement
- A level, firm spot at the unit base
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Arborfield Garrison
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Crew lunches
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
Questions from Arborfield Garrison
Which station is closest to Arborfield Garrison?
The closest is Wokingham station, roughly 3.2 miles away.
Can the van park in Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first.
Do you clear up afterwards?
The pitch is left as we found it. Bins for crew are worth planning.
Is grass a problem?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Let us know what the ground is like, and we’ll advise.
Can you feed supporting artists too?
Yes, include them in numbers. Tell us the day before.
Can the van park on the street?
That depends on local parking rules. Off-road parking is normally simpler; if it has to be the street, check with the council.
What paperwork do you provide?
Send us your supplier requirements.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Occasions we serve in Arborfield Garrison
It’s a morale boost on a tough day.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. In Arborfield Garrison, people book us for occasions like:
- Period dramas on location
- End-of-shoot parties
- Event crews
- Treat days on a long shoot
Arborfield Garrison is roughly 36 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews.
Before booking anyone
- When final numbers are due
- Whether travel is included
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- How much space the van takes up
- 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