Reading · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire for Arborfield events
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van turns food into part of your event in Arborfield.
- Work Christmas parties
- Village fêtes and school fairs
- Wakes and gatherings after a funeral
A chip van near Arborfield
How our fish and chip van hire works in Arborfield
A fish and chip van works almost anywhere the van can park: a drive, a car park, a yard, a showground or a firm lawn. For company team days and Fêtes, fairs and school events, we can cook sausage and chips, pie and chips and mushy peas and more.
In a rural place like Arborfield, fish and chips in a field feels just right. Tell us about gates, tracks and the ground. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
A fish and chip van in Arborfield: local details
Arborfield is about 3 miles west of Wokingham, in Reading. For an event in Arborfield, we can park on a drive, a car park, a yard or firm, dry grass in and around Arborfield. We cover all 34 towns and villages across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
A green space like Pearman's Copse is tempting, but a catering van there needs the landowner’s say-so, normally the council’s. If guests are travelling by rail, the nearest station is Winnersh station, about 2.5 miles north-east.
For events in RG2, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many guests. Whether your event is on Church Lane, Walden Avenue and Cartershill Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the van to you. Other places close to Arborfield we cover include Shinfield (2 miles west), Lower Earley (2 miles north), Ryeish Green (2 miles west), Earley (2 miles north) and Whitley Wood (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also take the van to Caversham (6 miles north-west), Norcot (6 miles north-west), West Reading (5 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (6 miles north-west), Caversham Heights (6 miles north-west) and Horncastle (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Wokingham Hospital (3 miles east) and Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (1.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Arborfield include South Lake and Sonning Hill.
- Schools near Arborfield include Bohunt School Wokingham (1.9 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Swan Inn (0.6 miles south-east)
Towns and villages near Arborfield
More for events in Arborfield
Why choose fish and chip van hire in Arborfield?
A van is food and an occasion in one. The van becomes a focal point, and the food is hot and plentiful.
Here are some of the occasions we serve around Arborfield:
- Weddings, especially the evening
- Garden get-togethers
- Festive get-togethers
- Fish and chip days at care homes
After a service at Church of St Bartholomew, the van can be waiting at a nearby hall or house.
Comparing caterers
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- How much space the van takes up
- What happens if plans change
- Allergen information for each item
Planning the van’s spot
The right spot keeps everyone safe and the service smooth. We look for:
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Arborfield
- Curry sauce
- Pie and chips
- Chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
A closer look at the menu
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Step by step
We arrive on time, pulls onto the spot you’ve chosen and the hatch goes up. Once the oil is hot, the first portions go out right on schedule. Evening events need a little planning for light: around Arborfield, it stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, but by late December it’s dark by about 3:55pm.
- Tell us what you are 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.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- The pitch is left tidy when we go.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
Ask for a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Arborfield, and we’ll check the date and send a price.
Read more
Arborfield questions
Is Arborfield too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Can you serve after a service at Church of St Bartholomew?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is generally served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you will gather.
Where do you take the van?
We cover London and the South East, Reading included. See all areas.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends and December. Even at short notice, it’s worth asking.
Do you cover Arborfield?
Yes. We take the van across London and the South East, including Arborfield. For a quote, use our quote form.
What’s on the menu?
Chip-shop favourites: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
How long will the queue be?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we will plan service around it.
What do we need to supply?
Let us know about power and water at the site in your enquiry, and we’ll confirm what we need.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Have a back-up for anyone who can’t eat from the van
- A short menu helps everyone
- Collect allergies with your RSVPs
- Put allergy details in writing
The oil needs time to come up to temperature, so we arrive well before service. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Let everyone know when the food is ready.
How we price a fish and chip van
Your quote will be clear. What affects it most:
- Parking and the way in
- The date and time of year
- Service time
- How many people are eating
Fish and chip van prices depend on the booking. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. We set everything out in your quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- A picture of where the van would go
- The date and time of the event
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Many venues set rules for catering vans: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work through them with you.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
- 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