Reading · England
Fish and Chip Van for Events for Sonning Common events
Treat your visitors to fresh fish and chips at your event in Sonning Common. The van arrives, the fryers go on and everything is cooked to order, so every portion goes out hot.
- School summer fairs
- Festivals
- Country shows
Book the van in Sonning Common
Fish and chip van for events in Sonning Common, cooked to order
We bring the van and everything we need to cook, which helps volunteer-run events. Whether it is summer fairs and fundraisers, we can cook cod and chips, chips and curry sauce for your guests.
Summer fairs around Sonning Common are frequently run by volunteers, so a trader who brings everything is a bonus. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
Step by step
Here’s how the day normally runs: the van arrives and we set up, the oil comes up to temperature, and food goes out hot when you’re ready to eat. For an evening event in Sonning Common, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- Show us where the van would go, and we will confirm it works.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for your visitors.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Preparing for the day
- Keep space clear for visitors at the hatch
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
Getting a price
Not sure of numbers yet? That’s fine: give us a rough idea and the date, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Read more
Also near Sonning Common
Also in Sonning Common
Should I sort the food myself?
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is normally the easier option.
Sonning Common events: pitches and permissions
Sonning Common is about 3 miles north of Caversham, in Reading. Give us the address of your event in Sonning Common, and we will plan the route and the parking spot. Sonning Common is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover.
A school like Sonning Common Primary School can book the van for a fair, fun run or sports day. Church fêtes, at churches such as The Church of Christ the King, are a natural home for a chip van.
Anywhere in RG4 and RG9, we can bring the van to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a house on Wood Lane, Green Lane and Woodbury Close, wherever the van can park. Nearby, we also serve events in 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). Being one of Reading’s larger places, Sonning Common has lots of places where the van can park.
Other landmarks nearby include Frazer Nash Archives (3.8 miles east) and Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and Warburg Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Sonning Common include Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (0.5 miles south-west) and The Warwick School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include Hare & Hounds pub (under half a mile north)
About the food
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the classic side with fish and chips.
Sonning Common questions
Can you come to a school fair in Sonning Common?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Send us the date and where the van would go.
What’s the nearest station to Sonning Common?
Henley-On-Thames station, about 3.7 miles east of the centre.
Is everything cooked fresh?
It is. The fryers are in the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear the van’s area after service. Let us know about bins for visitors.
Can you feed our volunteers and crew?
Yes, alongside public trading or on its own.
Where can the van park?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, with room for a queue at the hatch. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
How fast is service?
Keeping choices simple and sending people up in groups helps. Tell us your timings and we will advise.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Planning the van’s spot
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Somewhere firm if it rains
- Access that avoids crowds
- Information about power and water
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Sonning Common
- Curry sauce
- Chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
Allergies and dietary needs
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Plan crew and volunteer food times
- Tell us about the pitch
- Offer a choice of traders where you can
- Settle the pitch terms early
Have a hard-standing back-up pitch.
Pre-sold meal tickets can help at fundraisers.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
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.
Perfect for your event in Sonning Common
It keeps people on site.
Here are some of the occasions we serve around Sonning Common:
- Community open days
- Sports club events and race days
- Church fêtes
- School summer fairs
For visitors coming by rail, Henley-On-Thames station is about 3.7 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- When final numbers are due
- How allergens are handled
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- How much space the van takes up
A chip van compared with other options
Compared with a barbecue run by volunteers, a chip van frees your helpers. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Why book with us
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- A menu almost everyone likes
Read our pricing or the cost guide.
- 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