Reading · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Arborfield Cross
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, fish and chips for the wake makes the food a highlight of your wake in Arborfield Cross.
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
Planning an event in Arborfield Cross?
How it works
Expect a friendly, organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, park on the agreed spot, and cook and serve without fuss. Sunset in Arborfield Cross is about 7:05pm in late September and about 3:55pm in December; make sure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- First, the plan: what, where and what time.
- We come back with availability and a clear price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance, and how it gets in.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Clear the route for the van
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A picture of the spot helps too. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
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Funeral and wake catering in Arborfield Cross, cooked to order
We work quietly and simply. We arrive at the agreed time, park discreetly and serve when you’re ready. On the menu are haddock and chips, sausage and chips and pie and chips, and we are regularly asked to cater remembering a loved one’s favourite food and family meals after the service.
In rural Arborfield Cross, home or the hall is usual. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your wake, so the batter is still crisp when it is handed over.
Working with your venue
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
Parks, greens and streets typically need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
Food your guests will love
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans, and they’re on the menu.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Many wakes have sandwiches and cake. A hot meal can be more comforting, especially in winter. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why book our van in Arborfield Cross
- Hot food handed straight over
- All the chip-shop extras
- A menu almost everyone likes
- A quote that spells everything out
Looking after everyone
Allergies are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Let us know of any allergies
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Name a contact for the day who isn’t close family
Seats for older guests near the hall or house help.
A favourite cake can be a lovely touch.
Nearby places to Arborfield Cross
Other occasions in Arborfield Cross
DIY versus a fish and chip van
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
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.
Prices and what affects them
Fish and chip van pricing is simple once we know the basics:
- Access and parking
- Service time
- Your choice of menu
- Distance and any road charges
Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Details that help
The more we know about your wake, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- The address or venue name
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Arborfield Cross questions
We’re gathering after a service at Church of St Bartholomew: can you come?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Food is typically served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
Is Arborfield Cross close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you do anything other than fish?
Sausage and chips and pie and chips are on the menu. Tell us about other diets and we will tell you what we can offer.
Is short notice a problem?
Ask as soon as you have the date. We will let you know quickly.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible.
What if timings change?
We allow for it. We will work to your contact on the day.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
Frequently, if the ground is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so have a hard-surface back-up.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children usually love sausage and chips. Tell us how many are coming.
What the van needs
We will be honest if a spot will not work, and help find another. What matters most:
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Arborfield Cross
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
Wakes in Arborfield Cross: venues and practical details
Arborfield Cross is about 3 miles south-west of Wokingham, in Reading. For a wake in Arborfield Cross, we can park on a drive, a car park, a yard or firm, dry grass in and around Arborfield Cross. Arborfield Cross is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading we cover.
For family travelling by train, the nearest station is Winnersh station, about 2.7 miles north-east.
Here we cover the RG2 postcode area. We can serve a wake on streets such as Eversley Road, Chamberlain Gardens and Melrose Gardens, as long as there is somewhere for the van. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Farley Hill (2 miles south), Swallowfield (3 miles south-west), Spencers Wood (3 miles west), Riseley (3 miles south-west) and Bramshill (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Caversham (6 miles north-west), Norcot (7 miles north-west), West Reading (6 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (7 miles north-west), Caversham Heights (7 miles north-west) and Horncastle (6 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Beaumys Castle (3.5 miles south-west) and Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2 miles north). The countryside around Arborfield Cross includes South Lake and The Marshes Local Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Bohunt School Wokingham (1.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Swan Inn (less than half a mile north)
- 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