Reading · England
Film Set Catering in Whitley
Planning a fish and chip van for the crew in Whitley? The van comes to your venue, home or workplace and fry fresh while your crew queue at the hatch.
- Outside broadcasts
- Unit base lunches
- Ad shoots
Fresh fish and chips in Whitley
Should I sort the food myself?
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is usually the easier option.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
How our film set catering works in Whitley
We work with your location manager or production office on access, parking and timings. Typical bookings include live events and broadcasts and lunch at the unit base, serving sausage and chips, cod and chips and haddock and chips.
Near Whitley, base may be a field or yard, so ground conditions matter. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
Questions from Whitley
Which station is closest to Whitley?
Reading Green Park station, about 1.7 miles west of the centre.
Is Whitley close to London?
About 38 miles from central London.
Can you park on the road outside?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
Do you come to Whitley?
Yes, we do. We serve events in Whitley and across Reading. Send us your date to check availability.
Can you adjust to schedule changes?
We expect changes. A contact on the day is all we need.
What paperwork do you provide?
Tell us what the production needs and we will confirm what we can provide.
Can you serve children?
Children are very welcome. Let us know numbers, and we’ll include them in the plan.
Can the van park on grass?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we’ll advise.
Where the van can park in Whitley
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but there are a few things to check:
- Far enough from set to keep noise down
- A level, firm spot at the unit base
- A route in the van can manage, with no low branches or tight lanes
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Crew lunches
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
Shooting in Whitley: unit bases and access
Whitley is about 1 mile west of Earley, in Reading. Whitley is well within our area, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. Whitley is one of 34 places in Reading where we bring the van.
Whitley is roughly 38 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews.
Wherever your shoot is in RG2, RG1 and RG19, we can fry fresh for your crew. We can serve a shoot on streets such as Litton Road, Totnes Road and Winton Road or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. If your venue is just outside Whitley, we also cover Whitley Wood (1 mile south), Earley (1 mile east), Green Park (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile south-west) and Reading (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Caversham (3 miles north), Norcot (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (4 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (4 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (4 miles north) and Horncastle (3 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Royal Berkshire Hospital (1.6 miles north) and The Oracle (1.8 miles north). The countryside around Whitley includes Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Sonning Hill.
- Schools near Whitley include Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School (under half a mile north-west) and Crosfields School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include World Turned Upside Down pub (less than half a mile west)
- Other local spots include University of Reading library (1.1 miles north-east)
How we price a fish and chip van for the crew
The same numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The number of meals
- 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 to tell us
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Where you’d like the van to go
- A photo of the space and the way in
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: give us a rough idea and the date, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Here’s how:
- Flag any coeliac crew
- Share the base location and route
- Name a contact in the production office
- Plan an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
We work to the lunch time on the call sheet, with a contact for changes.
Bins at base keep the location clean.
The process
Setting up takes a little while, because the oil has to come up to temperature, so we always arrive well ahead of your serving time. Winter shoots near Whitley chase the light, which goes at about 3:55pm in December.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- Show us where the van would go, and we will confirm it works.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for the crew.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep space clear for crew at the hatch
- Clear the route for the van
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your shoot in Whitley, and we’ll check the date and send a price.
Related guides
Occasions we serve in Whitley
Productions book a chip van because crews love it.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Whitley and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Outside broadcasts
- Seaside shoots
- Music video shoots
- Photo shoots
Crew coming by rail can use the station: the nearest station is Reading Green Park station, about 1.7 miles west.
Comparing caterers
- Whether VAT is included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- What happens if plans change
Nearby places to Whitley
Also in Whitley
Is a fish and chip van right for your shoot?
For a crew lunch people will remember, a fish and chip van is a great choice. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. Keeping the menu short is generally the best value.
What you get with us
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- A quote that spells everything out
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- Something for crew to gather round
Take a look at how we price and what a fish and chip van costs.
For event organisers in Whitley
Parks, greens and streets generally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will work through them with you.
- 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