Reading · England
Fish and Chip Van for Events for Arborfield Garrison events
From the first sizzle in the fryer to the last chip, a fish and chip van for your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Arborfield Garrison.
- Fish and chip supper nights
- Sports tournaments
- Community open days
Planning an event in Arborfield Garrison?
About our fish and chip van for events in Arborfield Garrison
We bring the van and everything we need to cook, which helps volunteer-run events. Popular choices include haddock and chips, mushy peas and curry sauce, and we’re regularly asked to cater summer fairs and church fêtes and fish and chip suppers.
Summer fairs around Arborfield Garrison are frequently run by volunteers, so a trader who brings everything is a bonus. We cook inside the van, right where your visitors are, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
How it works
Your timings come first. If the day runs behind, we hold off cooking until you are ready, so the food is still fresh when it is served. At midsummer, events in Arborfield Garrison stay light until about 9:25pm, so evening trading usually finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter events, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- 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.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Preparing for the day
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Share the timings for the day
- Keep space clear for visitors at the hatch
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. To send them, fill in our quote form.
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About the food
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce, so we bring it along.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
A chip van compared with other options
At a small fête, one good trader may be all you need, with cakes and teas alongside. A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book with us
- No kitchen needed
- Bookings across Reading, including Arborfield Garrison
- Something for visitors to gather round
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
Your questions about a fish and chip van for your event in Arborfield Garrison
Can you come to a school fair in Arborfield Garrison?
Yes, if the school is happy for the van on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Can the van park in Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them first.
Can the van park on grass?
Typically, if it is firm and dry. Soft, wet ground can trap any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
Can you serve children?
Of course. Children typically love sausage and chips. Tell us how many are coming.
What do you bring?
Everything is cooked in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Tell us about coeliac visitors when you enquire, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
How fast is service?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. We will talk it through when we quote.
What does the pitch need?
Tell us the pitch size and ground, and we will check it works.
Organising for someone else?
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work through them with you.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- How easy the site is to reach
- How far we travel
- How many people are eating
- Any minimum charge
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. We set everything out in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- The address or venue name
- Dietary needs, with numbers
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. A picture of the spot helps too. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Why choose fish and chip van for events in Arborfield Garrison?
It keeps people on site for longer.
The van suits big events and small ones. Common bookings include:
- Crew and volunteer catering
- Club open days
- Charity fundraisers and community events
- Agricultural and country shows
If your event is in Shepperlands Farm Nature Reserve, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission for vehicles and traders.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether there’s a minimum
- How late numbers can change
- When payment is due
- What the price includes, item by item
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning helps everyone eat safely. A few tips:
- Tell us expected visitor numbers
- Plan something for visitors we cannot cater for
- Ask traders for allergen information to display
- Plan bins near food stalls
At the end, we pack down and leave the pitch clean.
A few benches near the van help.
Arborfield Garrison events: pitches and permissions
Arborfield Garrison is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Reading. Across the RG2 area, we can fry fresh for your visitors. Arborfield Garrison is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover. We serve events right across the region, from Arborfield Garrison to Reading (6 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Bohunt School Wokingham, are a natural fit for a fish and chip van. A summer fête at St Eligius is the classic setting for a fish and chip van.
Events anywhere in RG2 and RG40 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many visitors. From Rowcroft Road, Lance Way and Infirmary Court or anywhere nearby, we can park up and fry there. For events just outside Arborfield Garrison, we cover Langley Common (1 mile north), California (1 mile east), Barkham (1 mile north-east), Eversley (2 miles south) and Lower Common (2 miles south). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (7 miles north-west), Norcot (8 miles north-west), West Reading (6 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (8 miles north-west), Shinfield (3 miles north-west) and Caversham Heights (8 miles north-west). Arborfield Garrison is one of the larger places we cover in Reading, with plenty of venues for events.
Nearby you’ll also find Wokingham Hospital (3 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (3.6 miles west). Open spaces near Arborfield Garrison include The Marshes Local Nature Reserve and Horseshoe Lake.
- Local schools include Farley Hill Primary School (1 mile south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bramshill Hunt pub (within half a mile north-west)
Places near Arborfield Garrison
Also in Arborfield Garrison
Should I sort the food myself?
Deep-frying for lots of people at home is risky: hot oil and a busy party are a bad combination. A van is designed for exactly this.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. Ask us for a quote and 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