Reading · England
Film Set Catering for Fords Farm events
Fried to order and served hot: a fish and chip van for the crew in Fords Farm and across Reading.
- Wrap parties
- Period dramas on location
- Location shoots
Book the van in Fords Farm
Prices and what affects them
We will give you a clear quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Distance and any road charges
- How many people are eating
- The menu and how many choices
Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, plus travel and access. Every booking gets its own quote.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- A photo of the parking spot
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your shoot, and we will check the date and send a price.
Film set catering for your shoot in Fords Farm
Location shoots, commercials and wrap parties all suit a chip van. Whether it is outside broadcasts and seaside and period locations, we can cook sausage and chips, haddock and chips and cod and chips for your guests.
Near Fords Farm, base may be a field or yard. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer before booking.
What happens on the day
Because we cook inside the van, rain does not stop us. Crew will still appreciate a bit of cover near the hatch. Sunset in Fords Farm is about 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; for dawn calls or late wraps, plan lighting at base.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A photo of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for the crew.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the serving time
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
How to get a price
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: tell us the basics about your shoot, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
Events we cater in Fords Farm
Productions book a chip van because crews love it, especially on long shoots.
Whatever brings people together, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We regularly serve:
- Photo shoots
- Crew lunches at base
- Shoots on location
- Live events and broadcasts
Nearby historic houses include Mapledurham House (3.1 miles north). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations.
What your quote should include
- Whether there is a minimum
- The deadline for final numbers
- Allergen information for each item
- How many hours the van serves
The menu, dish by dish
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s the favourite in much of the south. It’s battered and fried to order.
Planning a shoot in Fords Farm
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. Give us the address of your shoot in Fords Farm, and we will plan the route and the parking spot. Fords Farm is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
For cast and crew travelling by train, the nearest station is Reading Green Park station, about 1.4 miles south-east. Fords Farm is roughly 40 miles from central London.
Shoots anywhere in RG30 and RG31 start with a parking spot for the van and a serving time. Local streets include Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road; a shoot on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Other places close to Fords Farm we cover include Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Further out, we also take the van to Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Nearby you will also find Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Within reach you’ll find Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Schools near Fords Farm include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Nearby, you will find The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
What the van needs
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. These are the things we check:
- A hardstanding spot at the unit base
- A queue area clear of trucks
- Agreement from the location manager and landowner
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Crew lunches
Your questions about a fish and chip van for the crew in Fords Farm
Which station is closest to Fords Farm?
The closest is Reading Green Park station, roughly 1.4 miles away.
Could you trade in Calcot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them first.
What do we need to supply?
A suitable spot for the van and permission to park there. Mention any power or water available and we will take it from there.
Can you work to the call sheet?
We can. Tell us the lunch time and a contact on the day, and we’ll work around changes where we can.
Do you take everything away?
The pitch is left as we found it. Bins for crew are worth planning.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
What paperwork do you provide?
Productions vary, so ask your production office for the list and we’ll go through it.
Is the fish gluten-free?
No, not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do.
Nearby places to Fords Farm
What else we do in Fords Farm
Planning for dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Give us a contact for call-time changes
- Let us know about coeliac disease
- Arrange something for anyone with needs we can’t meet
- Ask for dietary needs on the crew info form
Lunch is planned around the call sheet, and a contact keeps us updated.
End the shoot with a chip van wrap.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Some locations have nowhere to buy food. A van brings lunch to base. There is no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A short service and a long afternoon’s trading are very different bookings. We set everything out in your quote.
Why book with us
- Bookings across Reading, including Fords Farm
- Quick service from the hatch
- All the chip-shop extras
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Fords Farm? A fish and chip van draws people in and almost everyone likes it. Tell us about the event and we will take it from there.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
- 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