Reading · England
Film Set Catering for Shinfield events
Film set catering in Shinfield: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch at the time you choose.
- Commercials and music videos
- Wrap parties
- Period dramas on location
Fresh fish and chips in Shinfield
Film set catering for your shoot in Shinfield
Location shoots, commercials and wrap parties all suit a chip van. On the menu are pie and chips, sausage and chips and mushy peas, and typical bookings are for lunch at the unit base and location shoots.
Around Shinfield, locations can be rural. Let us know about access. Your quote spells out what’s included: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed, with no surprises on the day.
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Confirm numbers the day before
- Plan an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
- Name a contact in the production office
- Agree how the base is left
A short menu keeps the line moving.
Pre-orders from the crew help on tight breaks.
Shinfield for film and TV crews
Shinfield is about 3 miles south of Reading, in Reading. Tell us where your shoot in Shinfield will be, and we will plan the route and the parking spot. We cover 34 places across Reading.
For crew arriving by train, Reading Green Park station, about 2.6 miles north-west, is the nearest station. Central London is about 37 miles from Shinfield, within easy reach for London-based crews.
Wherever your shoot is in RG2, we can bring the van to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Teal Grove, Songbird Close and Skylark Way or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the van to you. If your venue is just outside Shinfield, we also cover Ryeish Green (1 mile south-west), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-west), Three Mile Cross (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile west) and Arborfield (2 miles east). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (5 miles north), Norcot (5 miles north-west), West Reading (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (3 miles south-east) and Caversham Heights (5 miles north). Shinfield is one of the larger places we cover in Reading, with lots of choice for shoots.
Nearby you’ll also find Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.9 miles north-east) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.1 miles north). Open spaces near Shinfield include Longwater and Sonning Hill.
- Local schools include Oakbank (0.7 miles west) and Ryeish Green School (0.7 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include Bell & Bottle pub (less than half a mile south-east)
What the van needs
The right spot keeps everyone safe and the service smooth. We need:
- The location’s agreement
- Level, firm ground at base
- Lighting for early or late service
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we serve
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Crew lunches
How we price a fish and chip van for the crew
Your quote will be clear. What affects it most:
- How long we serve
- Access and parking
- How many people are eating
- Distance and any road charges
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so tell us exactly where your shoot is.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Where you’d like the van to go
- A picture of where the van would go
- Your date and serving time
- Rough numbers for adults and children
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your shoot, and we will check the date and send a price.
For event organisers in Shinfield
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Shinfield? A fish and chip van draws people in and almost everyone likes it. Give us the details and we will suggest how it could work.
The process
Nothing is cooked before it’s needed. Fish is battered and fried when people come up to the hatch, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. Winter shoots near Shinfield chase the light, which goes at about 3:55pm in December.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. Photos of the spot and the way in help. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Common questions in Shinfield
Is Shinfield close to London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Which station is closest to Shinfield?
The closest is Reading Green Park station, roughly 2.6 miles away.
What food do you serve?
Proper fish and chips, with sausages and pies for anyone who doesn’t want fish. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Is there something for children?
Of course. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Tell us about coeliac crew when you enquire, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible.
How long will the queue be?
Keeping choices simple and sending people up in groups helps. We’ll talk it through when we quote.
Can you feed visitors on set?
Yes, include them in numbers. Tell us the day before.
Can the van come to our wrap?
We do. It’s a great way to end a shoot.
Takeaway run or book a van?
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
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.
Events we cater in Shinfield
It works in any weather.
Here are some of the occasions we serve in Shinfield and Reading:
- Crew morale days
- Ad shoots
- Photo shoots
- Event crews
Nearby historic houses include Stratfield Saye House (4.5 miles south-west). Period locations like these typically keep vehicles well away from the house, so agree the base early.
Before booking anyone
- The deadline for final numbers
- VAT, if it applies
- How much space the van takes up
- What happens if plans change
A chip van compared with other options
Takeaway rarely reaches a location hot. A van cooks at the unit base. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu and timing to match. A short menu is frequently the best value.
Why book with us
- Hot food handed straight over
- Events in Shinfield and across Reading
- Something for crew to gather round
- All the chip-shop extras
Take a look at our pricing or what a fish and chip van costs.
What else we do in Shinfield
- 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