Reading · England
Film and TV set catering in Sonning Common, Reading
Bring the chip shop to your shoot in Sonning Common. We park up, heat the fryers and cook to order, so every portion goes out hot.
- Stills shoots
- Live events and broadcasts
- Period dramas on location
Film set catering in Sonning Common
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
About our film set catering in Sonning Common
We work with your location manager or production office on access, parking and timings. Popular choices include sausage and chips, mushy peas and pie and chips, and we’re regularly asked to cater crew morale days and ad shoots.
Shoots around Sonning Common frequently use houses, farms and lanes. Let us know about access. We cook inside the van, right where your crew are, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
Common questions in Sonning Common
What’s the nearest station to Sonning Common?
The closest is Henley-On-Thames station, roughly 3.7 miles away.
Is Sonning Common close to London?
About 38 miles from central London.
Where do you take the van?
We take the van across London and the South East, including Reading. See all areas.
Can you park at the unit base?
Typically, if there is level, firm ground. Locations will decide where.
Can you adjust to schedule changes?
Yes. Tell us the lunch time and a contact on the day, and we’ll adjust where possible.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
It depends on numbers, the menu, how long we serve and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you come to Sonning Common?
Yes, we do. Sonning Common is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Can you cater for allergies?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Send us any allergies in writing.
About the food
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food.
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Name a contact in the production office
- Confirm allergies by email
- Confirm numbers the day before
- Plan bins and waste at base
We set up at the unit base ahead of lunch.
A chip van wrap party is a great way to finish a shoot.
The process
We do not cook ahead. Each portion is battered and fried as it is ordered, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. Winter shoots near Sonning Common chase the light, which goes at about 3:55pm in December.
- It starts with the unit base, dates and numbers.
- You get an access check and a quote.
- Parking and arrival are agreed with locations.
- We serve hot from the hatch when lunch is called.
- Afterwards we pack up and leave the unit base clean.
How to prepare
- Share the timings for the day
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
Get a quote
Not sure of numbers yet? That’s fine: tell us the basics about your shoot, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Planning a shoot in Sonning Common
Sonning Common is about 3 miles north of Caversham, in Reading. For a shoot in Sonning Common, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around Sonning Common. We cover all 34 towns and villages in Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
Crew coming by rail can use the station: Henley-On-Thames station, about 3.7 miles east, is the nearest station. Sonning Common is about 38 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews.
We take the van to shoots all over RG4 and RG9 and the streets around it. That could mean a shoot at a home on Wood Lane, Green Lane and Woodbury Close or the roads around them, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. For shoots just outside Sonning Common, we cover Peppard Hill (1 mile north-west), Rotherfield Peppard (1 mile north), Kidmore End (1 mile south-west), Kingwood Common (1 mile north-west) and Shepherd's Green (2 miles north). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (3 miles south), Norcot (4 miles south-west), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (5 miles south-west), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south). Sonning Common is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading, with plenty of venues for shoots.
Nearby you’ll also find Frazer Nash Archives (3.8 miles east) and Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Within reach you’ll find Sonning Hill and Warburg Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (0.5 miles south-west) and The Warwick School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find Hare & Hounds pub (under half a mile north)
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Takeaway rarely reaches a location hot. A van cooks at the unit base. A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. Ask us for a quote.
Why Sonning Common hosts choose us
- Quick service from the hatch
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
Take a look at how we price or what a fish and chip van costs.
What a fish and chip van costs
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The minimum booking
- Cod, haddock or both
- Access and parking
- How many people are eating
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and time of the event
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
- Dietary needs, with 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.
Nearby places to Sonning Common
Other occasions in Sonning Common
DIY versus a fish and chip van
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the shoot.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Who books film set catering in Sonning Common?
It lifts the crew.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. People in Sonning Common book the van for events such as:
- Event crews
- Location filming
- Seaside and period locations
- Unit base lunches
Within reach of Sonning Common are historic houses such as Greys Court (2.2 miles north-east) and Mapledurham House (3.2 miles south-west). Historic houses are popular locations, and most set strict rules for vehicles, so plan the unit base with locations.
Comparing caterers
- Payment terms and deposit
- The van’s size and access needs
- The service time, and the cost of running over
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- 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