Wokingham · England
Film Set Catering for Lower Earley events
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for the crew turns food into part of your shoot in Lower Earley.
- Photo shoots
- Lunch at the unit base
- Period dramas on location
Film set catering in Lower Earley
Events we cater in Lower Earley
It suits short shoots without a full catering unit.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Crew morale days
- Stills shoots
- Wrap celebrations
- Music video shoots
Lower Earley is about 36 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews.
What to look for in a quote
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The van’s size and access needs
- VAT, if it applies
- How allergens are handled
Film set catering in Lower Earley, fried fresh
Schedules move, so a contact on the day helps and we will adjust where we can. On the menu are haddock and chips, cod and chips and mushy peas, and we are frequently booked for outside broadcasts and seaside and period locations.
Near Lower Earley, base may be a field or yard. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer before booking.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up and bring the oil up to temperature. Crew typically gather round the hatch as soon as we open. On a winter shoot near Lower Earley, the light goes by about 3:55pm, so the unit base needs lighting for late service. Summer shoots have daylight until about 9:25pm.
- We start with a few details about your shoot.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- Timings and the van’s spot are agreed in advance.
- We cook to order on the day for the crew.
- We serve from the hatch, then leave the pitch tidy.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level, firm spot for the van
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
How to get a price
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, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What the van needs
The van has to be able to get in and park safely, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- A clear route to base
- Space in front of the hatch
- Level, firm ground at base
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Lower Earley
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Crew lunches
Lower Earley questions
Could you trade in Maiden Erlegh Local Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them first.
Which station is closest to Lower Earley?
Earley station, about 1 mile north of the centre.
Can you work to the call sheet?
Schedules move, and we plan for it. Keep us updated and we will adapt.
How long does set-up take?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. We’ll agree arrival and serving times with you so food is ready when you want it.
Is grass a problem?
Normally, if it is firm and dry. Soft, wet ground can trap any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
What happens if it rains?
We cook inside the van, so rain doesn’t stop us. Crew will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes, always. We fry to order in the van at your venue, then handed over hot from the hatch.
Can the van come to Lower Earley?
Yes. We take the van across London and the South East, and Lower Earley is within our area and the rest of Wokingham. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The day of the week
- How long we serve
- Any minimum charge
- Cod, haddock or both
Fish and chip van prices depend on the booking. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. We set everything out in your quote.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Where the event is
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Anything awkward about the way in
Still finalising the details? No problem: tell us the basics about your shoot, and we’ll quote on that. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Many locations are miles from shops. The van solves that. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your shoot.
Why book with us
- Quick service from the hatch
- A menu almost everyone likes
- All the chip-shop extras
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
Food your guests will love
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there is pie and chips.
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Location catering around Lower Earley
Lower Earley is about 3 miles south-east of Reading, in Wokingham. Shoots in Lower Earley are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. We serve 35 places across Wokingham, from the larger towns to small villages.
For crew arriving by train, the closest railway station is Earley station, roughly 1 mile north of the centre.
Here we cover the RG6 and RG41 postcode area, and we can serve your shoot anywhere in it. We can serve a shoot on streets such as Beech Lane, Gipsy Lane and Durand Road or the roads around them, as long as there is somewhere for the van. For shoots just outside Lower Earley, we cover Earley (1 mile north-west), Arborfield (2 miles south), Whitley (2 miles west), Shinfield (2 miles south-west) and Whitley Wood (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Reading (3 miles north-west), Wokingham (3 miles east), Crowthorne (6 miles south-east), Woosehill (3 miles east), Emmbrook (3 miles east) and Coley Park (3 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Wokingham, Lower Earley has plenty of venues, halls and workplaces.
A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.4 miles north-west) and Beaumys Castle (4.4 miles south-west). The countryside around Lower Earley includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.
- Local schools include Maiden Erlegh School (0.7 miles north) and Crosfields School (1.3 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Poachers pub (1 mile east)
- Other local spots include University of Reading library (1.4 miles north-west)
Looking after everyone
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Plan bins and waste at base
- Plan an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
- Flag any coeliac crew
- Update numbers if they change
After service, we pack up and get out of the way.
A chip van wrap party is a great way to finish a shoot.
Towns and villages near Lower Earley
What else we do in Lower Earley
Takeaway run or book a van?
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
- 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