Wokingham · England
Film and TV set catering in Newtown, Wokingham
From the first sizzle in the fryer to the last chip, a fish and chip van for the crew turns food into part of your shoot in Newtown.
- Shoots on location
- Lunch at the unit base
- Event crews
Film set catering in Newtown
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 has loyal fans: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
How our film set catering works in Newtown
We need a level, firm spot at base, and a clear route in. We serve mushy peas, haddock and chips and sausage and chips, and typical bookings are for treat days on a long shoot and ad shoots.
Around Newtown, locations can be rural. Let us know about access. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your shoot, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
Planning for dietary needs
Most events have a few crew with dietary needs. To look after them:
- Send final numbers the day before
- Add an allergy question to crew forms
- Arrange something for anyone with needs we cannot meet
- Plan bins and waste at base
We set up at the unit base ahead of lunch.
A gazebo by the van keeps the line dry.
The process
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, park on the agreed spot, and cook and serve without fuss. Light in Newtown lasts until about 9:25pm at midsummer; for early or late service, base needs lighting.
- We start with the location, call times and crew numbers.
- You get an access check and a quote.
- We arrange the van’s spot at the unit base with locations.
- We set up at the unit base and fry to order for the lunch break.
- Afterwards we pack up and leave the unit base clean.
Before we arrive
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Clear the route for the van
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Newtown for film and TV crews
Newtown is about 1 mile east of Reading, in Wokingham. Give us the address of your shoot in Newtown, and we will plan the route and the parking spot. Newtown is one of 35 towns and villages in Wokingham we cover.
For crew arriving by train, the nearest station is Reading station, about 1.1 miles west. Among the historic houses close to Newtown are Mapledurham House (4.3 miles north-west). Period locations like these typically keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early.
This part of Wokingham takes in RG1, RG6 and RG4, so your shoot can be anywhere in it. Whether your shoot is on Orts Road, Eldon Road and Amity Road or a nearby road, we can park up and fry there. We also bring the van to shoots in Lower Caversham (1 mile north-west), Reading (1 mile west), Earley (2 miles south-east), Caversham (2 miles north-west) and Play Hatch (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Wokingham (5 miles south-east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east), Winnersh (3 miles south-east), Woosehill (5 miles south-east), Emmbrook (5 miles south-east) and Twyford (4 miles north-east). As one of the bigger places in Wokingham, Newtown has plenty of venues, halls and workplaces.
Nearby you’ll also find The Oracle (1.1 miles west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (0.6 miles south-west). Open spaces near Newtown include Sonning Hill and Fobney Island Wetland Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Bulmershe College (less than half a mile west) and Maiden Erlegh School (0.6 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Fisherman's Cottage pub (under half a mile west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include University of Reading library (1 mile south)
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 usually simpler.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. Ask us for a quote and compare.
What the van needs
Before the day, we will agree where the van parks. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- The location’s agreement
- Lighting for early or late service
- Away from the shooting area’s sound
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
From the hatch
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Crew lunches
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
Nearby places to Newtown
What else we do in Newtown
Events we cater in Newtown
It’s quick to serve within a lunch break.
These are some of the bookings we take in Newtown and Wokingham:
- Seaside and period locations
- Fashion shoots on location
- Ad shoots
- Crew lunches at base
Newtown is roughly 37 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews.
What your quote should include
- VAT, if it applies
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- The service time, and the cost of running over
- What the price includes, item by item
A chip van compared with other options
Takeaway rarely reaches a location hot. A van cooks at the unit base. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why book with us
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
- A clear quote before you book
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
Take a look at how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Newtown: your questions answered
Can the van park in Eldon Square?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them first.
How far is Newtown from London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
What’s on the menu?
The classics: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
What if we only have street parking?
That depends on local parking rules. A drive, car park or yard is typically easier; for the street, check the council’s rules.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, then handed over hot from the hatch.
Do we need to provide anything?
Let us know about power and water at the site in your enquiry, and we’ll confirm what we need.
Is there something for children?
Of course. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Tell us how many are coming.
How long are you on site?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We confirm all the timings beforehand.
What a fish and chip van costs
We will give you a clear quote. The main things that affect it are:
- The day of the week
- Your choice of menu
- The length of service
- Numbers
A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- The address or venue name
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- A picture of where the van would go
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
- 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