Reading · England
Film Set Catering for Horncastle events
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew makes the food a highlight of your shoot in Horncastle.
- Music video shoots
- Crew lunches at base
- Seaside shoots
Film set catering in Horncastle
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Here’s how:
- Share the base location and route
- Plan an alternative for anyone we can’t cater for
- Confirm allergies by email
- Update numbers if they change
Used oil leaves with the van.
A dining area at base helps.
Film set catering in Horncastle, cooked to order
The van needs level, firm ground at the unit base, and a route the van can manage. We are frequently asked to cater crew treats on long shoot days and stills shoots, with pie and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
For a location shoot near Horncastle, base might be in a field or farmyard. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet, and handed over as soon as it’s ready.
The menu, dish by dish
Curry sauce
Chip-shop curry sauce is a mild, slightly sweet British classic, great with chips and sausages.
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it’s lovely with a pie.
Questions from Horncastle
Which station is closest to Horncastle?
The closest is Reading West station, roughly 1.6 miles away.
How far is Horncastle from London?
Roughly 40 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Is the food cooked at the event?
It is. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Do you have documents for productions?
Tell us what the production needs and we will confirm what we can provide.
Can you park at the unit base?
Generally, if there’s level, firm ground. We will agree the spot with your location manager.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are very welcome. Let us know numbers, and we’ll plan for them.
Can the van park on the street?
It depends on the road. A drive, car park or yard is normally easier; if it has to be the street, check with the council.
How much does a fish and chip van for the crew cost in Horncastle?
The price depends on numbers, menu, service time and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What affects the price in Horncastle
The same numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The minimum booking
- The date and time of year
- Your choice of menu
- How easy the site is to reach
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- A picture of the space and the way in
- Expected numbers
- Where the van would park
Send us the date, the address or RG30 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time, and we will reply with a quote. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Nearby places to Horncastle
Other occasions in Horncastle
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Many locations are miles from shops. The van solves that. Fish and chip van prices depend on the booking. A short service and a long afternoon’s trading are very different bookings. Your quote spells it all out.
Why book with us
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- No surprises in your quote
- Quick service from the hatch
- A menu almost everyone likes
Location catering around Horncastle
Horncastle is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. In and around Horncastle, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field. We serve 34 places across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Crew coming by rail can use the station: Reading West station, about 1.6 miles north-east, is the nearest station. Among the historic houses close to Horncastle are Mapledurham House (2.8 miles north). If you are shooting at a historic house, the van will need a base agreed with the property.
For shoots in RG30 and RG31, we just need to know where the van can park. Whether your shoot is on Low Lane, Usk Road and Mill Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the van to you. If your venue is just outside Horncastle, we also cover Fords Farm (1 mile south), Southcote (1 mile east), Tilehurst Within (1 mile north), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile south-west) and Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (3 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 (5 miles north). Horncastle is one of the larger places we cover in Reading, with lots of choice for shoots.
Well-known places in the area include Battle Hospital (1.5 miles north-east) and Broad Street Mall (2.2 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Schools near Horncastle include Prospect School (less than half a mile north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Happy Prospect pub (0.7 miles east)
How the day works
We get there well before service, park the van and get the fryers going. Your crew can wander over to the hatch as soon as we open. At midsummer, Horncastle has light until about 9:25pm, while by late September it’s nearer 7:10pm.
- 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.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for the crew.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Before we arrive
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
What the van needs
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- Far enough from set to keep noise down
- Lighting for early or late service
- A queue area clear of trucks
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Horncastle
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Crew lunches
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
Occasions we serve in Horncastle
It suits short shoots without a full catering unit.
These are some of the bookings we take around Horncastle:
- Treat days on a long shoot
- Shoots on location
- Seaside shoots
- Event crews
Central London is about 40 miles from Horncastle.
What to look for in a quote
- What happens if plans change
- How much space the van takes up
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- Whether travel is included
- 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