Reading · England
Fish and Chip Van for Events in Southcote
Looking for a fish and chip van for your event in Southcote? We bring the van to you and fry fresh while your visitors queue at the hatch.
- Club open days
- Music and food festivals
- Church fêtes
Book the van in Southcote
How our fish and chip van for events works in Southcote
Food is fried to order, so it is hot and crisp. We are often asked to cater village fêtes and school summer fairs, serving chips, haddock and chips and cod and chips.
In Southcote, one popular trader keeps it simple. Fish and chips does exactly that. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is a first dance, a lunch break or a service time.
Space, access and the venue
The right spot keeps everyone safe and the service smooth. We look for:
- Access that avoids crowds
- Space for a queue away from paths
- A back-up spot if the ground is soft
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Southcote
- Chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Curry sauce
- Sausage and chips
Your questions about a fish and chip van for your event in Southcote
How far is Southcote from London?
Roughly 40 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you trade at school fairs around Southcote?
Yes, if the school is happy for the van on site. Send us the date and where the van would go.
Do you come to Southcote?
Yes, we do. Southcote is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Let us know about coeliac visitors in advance, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
What can visitors choose from?
Fish and chips, of course, plus sausage or pie and chips. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Can you cook in the rain?
We carry on in the rain, because the cooking happens inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
Is there a non-fish option?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we will be honest about what’s possible.
What does it cost to hire the van?
The price depends on numbers, menu, service time and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Takeaway run or book a 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.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Looking after everyone
We take allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Arrange bins and waste collection
- Agree how we’ll be paid: pitch fee, share of takings or minimum
- Make sure allergen information is available
- Set a time for helpers’ food
Agree a wet-weather pitch on hard standing in case the ground is soft.
A spot near the entrance or main ring works well.
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Southcote? Fish and chips is a reliable crowd-pleaser. Give us the details and we’ll suggest how it could work.
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Towns and villages near Southcote
What else we do in Southcote
How the day works
There is very little for you to do on the day: point us to the spot and get on with your event. The frying and serving are down to us. Summer fêtes in Southcote have long light evenings, with sunset about 9:25pm at midsummer, but by late September the light goes at about 7:10pm.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- Timings and the van’s spot are agreed in advance.
- We cook to order on the day for your visitors.
- We serve from the hatch, then leave the pitch tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and you’ll get a clear price. To get started, use our quote form.
Related guides
Is a fish and chip van right for your event?
Cold food stalls are fine on a hot day, but hot food is a draw when it is cool. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why book our van in Southcote
- A clear quote before booking
- Classic food your visitors already know
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Something for visitors to gather round
Read our pricing or the cost guide.
Community events around Southcote
Southcote is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. People in Southcote book us for all sorts of reasons, but the plan is always the same: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We cover all 34 towns and villages in Reading.
Running a fête for a church like St Matthew's? A chip van draws people in. A school like Manor Primary School can book the van for a fair, fun run or sports day.
We take the van to events all over the RG30, RG31 and RG1 postcode area and the streets around it. We can serve an event on streets such as Bath Road, Dwyer Road and Brunel Road or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. If your venue is just outside Southcote, we also cover Fords Farm (1 mile west), Horncastle (1 mile west), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south-west), Tilehurst Within (1 mile north-west) and Norcot (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also take the van to Caversham (3 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (5 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Beaumys Castle (4.7 miles south) and Battle Hospital (1.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Local schools include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-west) and Elvian School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Happy Prospect pub (within half a mile east)
What affects the price in Southcote
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Service time
- Cod, haddock or both
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- Whether a minimum applies
Most vans have a minimum charge, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. We will tell you up front.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Where the event is
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can send us your details through our quote form.
A closer look at the menu
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it is especially welcome on a cold day.
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it is what most people in the south ask for. It is battered and fried to order, so it is crisp when it reaches 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