Reading · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Gallowstree Common, Reading
We bring a fish and chip van for your event to Gallowstree Common and nearby, frying fresh at your venue.
- Crew and volunteer catering
- Country shows
- School summer fairs
A chip van near Gallowstree Common
Questions from Gallowstree Common
Is Gallowstree Common too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Gallowstree Common close to London?
About 39 miles from central London.
What are the terms for events?
We will talk it through when you send the details, and we will agree terms.
Can you feed our volunteers and crew?
Yes, alongside public trading or on its own.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
What happens if it rains?
We carry on in the rain, because the fryers are inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Everything is cooked in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site and we will confirm what we need.
How fast is service?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. We will talk it through when we quote.
Fish and chip van for events in Gallowstree Common, fried fresh
We can trade to the public or feed your volunteers, or both. We’re frequently asked to cater community open days and crew and volunteer catering, serving chips, haddock and chips and mushy peas.
At a fête or show near Gallowstree Common, we can bring hot food to a field. Tell us about the ground and the way in. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer before booking.
About the food
Sausage and chips
A sausage and chips is the chip-shop classic for younger visitors and fish-dodgers.
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Community events around Gallowstree Common
Gallowstree Common is about 3 miles north-west of Caversham, in Reading. For events in Gallowstree Common, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a parking spot and fresh frying on the day. Gallowstree Common is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
If visitors are coming by train, Tilehurst station, about 3.3 miles south, is the nearest station. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of St John the Baptist, a chip van adds hot food to the cakes and tombola.
Wherever your event is in RG4, we can fry fresh for your visitors, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Reades Lane, Hearns Lane and Horsepond Road; an event on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. If your venue is just outside Gallowstree Common, we also cover Cane End (1 mile south-west), Hook End (2 miles north-west), Stoke Row (2 miles north), Checkendon (3 miles north-west) and Woodcote (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Caversham (3 miles south-east), Norcot (4 miles south), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (4 miles south), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). The countryside around Gallowstree Common includes Hartslock.
- Schools near Gallowstree Common include The Warwick School (0.6 miles south-east) and Kidmore End Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Reformation pub (under half a mile west)
DIY versus a fish and chip van
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is typically simpler.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van solves that by cooking on site.
How we price a fish and chip van for your event
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The date and time of year
- How far we travel
- How long we serve
- Whether a minimum applies
Most vans have a minimum charge, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. We’ll tell you up front.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- The date and time of the event
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Roughly how many people, including children
Send us the date, the address or RG4 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat, and we’ll reply with a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Places near Gallowstree Common
Also in Gallowstree Common
A fish and chip van or other catering?
For a stall visitors will queue for, a chip van is hard to beat in Gallowstree Common. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why book with us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting at home? Send a picture of where the van would park, and we will let you know if the van will fit.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
What happens on the day
If the plan changes on the day, a quick word is all it takes: we’ll adjust start times and pace. Summer events in Gallowstree Common have daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer and about 7:10pm by late September, which helps evening trading. For winter events, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- You send us the event details and pitch information.
- You get our pitch needs and a quick answer on availability.
- We set up before the gates open.
- We cook fresh and serve through the day.
- We clear the pitch when the event closes.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Have other stalls for special diets
- Agree who removes waste
- Agree the terms in writing
- Tell us expected visitor numbers
At the end, we pack down and leave the pitch clean.
Pre-sold meal tickets can help at fundraisers.
Where the van can park in Gallowstree Common
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Details of any power or water on site
- Confirmation the van can trade there
- A level, firm pitch the van can drive onto
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
From the hatch
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Curry sauce
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Chips
- 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