Reading · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire for West Reading events
Looking for a fish and chip van in West Reading? The van comes to your venue, home or workplace and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Festive get-togethers
- Garden get-togethers
- Visits to care homes and day centres
A chip van near West Reading
How our fish and chip van hire works in West Reading
Queuing at the hatch is half the experience. People gather, catch up and get their food straight from the fryer. We are often asked to cater wakes and celebrations of life and village fêtes and school fairs, serving sausage and chips, mushy peas and cod and chips.
Around West Reading, bookings are frequently at homes, local halls and clubs. If access is tight, we will plan around it. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will be straight with you about what we can do before booking.
Perfect for your event in West Reading
There’s no kitchen needed, so it is at home in car parks, yards and fields where plated meals are hard.
The van suits big events and small ones. Common bookings include:
- Village fêtes and school fairs
- Evening wedding food
- Birthday celebrations
- Staff lunches and team days
For anyone arriving by rail, there is a station right in West Reading: Reading West station.
What your quote should include
- When final numbers are due
- When payment is due
- Whether there is a minimum
- What the price includes, item by item
Also near West Reading
What else we do in West Reading
About the food
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Looking after everyone
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Put bins and napkins by the van
- Fewer choices mean faster service
- Arrange an alternative for anyone we cannot cater for
- Tell us how many children are coming
The fryers take a little while to heat, so we arrive well before service. If timings shift, we adapt.
Plan cover near the hatch if rain is possible.
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on arrival and serving times.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a fête committee, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
How the day works
Nothing gathers a crowd like the smell of fish and chips. Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, with chips cooked in batches as the queue moves. Evening events need a little planning for light: around West Reading, it stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, but by late December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter bookings need lighting by the hatch.
- First, you send us your date, address, numbers and serving time.
- We check availability and access and send a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, park up and heat the fryers.
- We cook to order and serve hot at the time you chose.
- When service is finished, we pack up and leave the pitch tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Let us know the serving time
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Read more
Takeaway run or book a van?
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For a crowd, a van is normally simpler.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
FAQs for West Reading
How far is West Reading from London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We are gathering after a service at Church of St Mark: can you come?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is usually elsewhere. Send us the address.
Do we need to provide anything?
Tell us what’s available at the site in your enquiry, and we’ll say what we need.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends and December. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Can the van park on the street?
It depends on the road. Off-road parking is typically simpler; for the street, check the council’s rules.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can you cater for allergies?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Fish and gluten are the main ones in battered fish. Tell us about allergies in advance.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook inside the van, so rain doesn’t stop us. It is worth planning some cover for the queue.
Fish and chip van hire around West Reading
West Reading is about 1 mile north-west of Reading, in Reading. We cover West Reading as standard, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. We cover 34 places across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
After a service at Church of St Mark, the van can be waiting at a nearby hall or house. Parks such as Round Copse usually need permission from the council or landowner for a catering van, so check first.
For events in RG30, RG1 and RG31, we just need to know where the van can park. Streets in the area include Lundy Lane, Wilson Road and Wilton Road, and the van can serve an event on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Being close to the A4, West Reading is simple for us to get to. We also bring the van to events in Coley Park (1 mile south-east), Reading (1 mile south-east), Caversham Heights (2 miles north), Lower Caversham (2 miles north-east) and Green Park (2 miles south). We also serve nearby towns such as Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east), Sonning Common (4 miles north), Caversham Park Village (3 miles north-east) and Sonning (4 miles east). West Reading is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading, with plenty of venues for events.
A little further out are Battle Hospital (less than half a mile north) and Broad Street Mall (0.8 miles east). The countryside around West Reading includes Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and Sonning Hill.
- Nearby schools include The WREN School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Rose And Thistle Public House (within half a mile east)
Planning the van’s spot
If a spot is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another. What matters most:
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- A clear area by the serving hatch
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in West Reading
- Curry sauce
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Chips
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Numbers
- How far we travel
- The menu and how many choices
- Whether a minimum applies
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Roughly how many people, including children
- The date and time of the event
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Each quote is put together for your event. Start with your date, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
- 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