Wokingham · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in California, Wokingham
Fish and chip van for events in California: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, and served hot from the hatch.
- Fish and chip supper nights
- Country shows
- Fundraisers
Planning an event in California?
How our fish and chip van for events works in California
Food is fried to order, so it’s hot and crisp. We serve curry sauce, mushy peas and chips, and we are frequently booked for church fêtes and fish and chip suppers and crew and volunteer catering.
For a village fête or field event near California, a chip van brings hot food to a rural site. Tell us about the ground and the way in. We cook inside the van, right where your visitors are, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Cakes and sandwiches are popular, but hot food brings people in on cooler days. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest how to make it work. A short menu is often the best value.
Why us?
- A van that becomes part of the event
- A clear quote before you book
- All the chip-shop extras
- Classic food your visitors already know
Event catering near California
California is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Wokingham. For events in California, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around California. We cover 35 places across Wokingham. We serve events right across the region, from California to Reading (7 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Gorse Ride Junior School, are a natural fit for a fish and chip van. For anyone arriving by train, Crowthorne station is about 2.4 miles away.
Wherever your event is in RG40, we can fry fresh for your visitors, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a house on Warren Lane, White Horse Lane and Fernbank, wherever the van can park. If your venue is just outside California, we also cover Arborfield Garrison (1 mile west), Finchampstead (1 mile south-east), Barkham (1 mile north), Langley Common (1 mile north-west) and Eversley (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include Reading (7 miles north-west), Wokingham (3 miles north-east), Woodley (5 miles north), Earley (5 miles north-west), Crowthorne (3 miles east) and Lower Earley (4 miles north-west).
A little further out are Beaumys Castle (4.7 miles west) and Wokingham Hospital (2.6 miles north-east). Within reach you’ll find Horseshoe Lake and Holt Copse & Joel Park.
- Schools near California include Bohunt School Wokingham (1 mile west)
- Pubs nearby include The Queen's Oak pub (0.7 miles south-east)
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
Fish and chip van pricing is simple once we know the basics:
- Service time
- Access and parking
- The number of meals
- Cod, haddock or both
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Where the van would park
- The venue or postcode
- Allergies and diets you know about
- A picture of the space and the way in
Planning a fish and chip van for your event in California? Send us the details and we’ll come back with a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Step by step
A typical booking goes like this: we arrive, park up and set up, the fryers heat up, and food goes out hot at the agreed time. Summer events in California have daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, so evening trading typically finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter fairs, dark by about 3:55pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance, and how it gets in.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- The pitch is left tidy when we go.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Let us know the serving time
Getting a price
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: tell us the basics about your event, and we will quote on that. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
For event organisers in California
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Planning the van’s spot
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Access that avoids crowds
- Space for a queue away from paths
- The landowner’s or organiser’s permission for the van
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
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 typically simpler.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Your questions about a fish and chip van for your event in California
What’s the nearest station to California?
The closest is Crowthorne station, roughly 2.4 miles away.
Can you come to a school fair in California?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Tell us the date and pitch details.
What do we need to supply?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we’ll confirm the rest.
What are the terms for events?
That varies: a pitch fee, a share of takings or a guaranteed minimum. We will agree terms before the day.
What can visitors choose from?
Proper fish and chips, with sausages and pies for anyone who does not want fish. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Do you take everything away?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for visitors are worth planning.
What does it cost to hire the van?
The price depends on numbers, menu, service time and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Can you serve children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers, and we’ll plan for them.
Events we cater in California
We keep cooking in the rain.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. People in California book the van for occasions like:
- Church fêtes
- Feeding event crew
- Agricultural and country shows
- Summer fairs
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of St James, a chip van adds hot food to the cakes and tombola.
What your quote should include
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- What happens if plans change
- Whether travel is included
- Whether there is a minimum
About the food
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips covers anyone who does not want fish, and it’s a favourite with children.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Nearby places to California
Also in California
- 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