Reading · England
Funeral and wake catering in Arborfield, Reading
Fried to order and served hot: fish and chips for the wake in Arborfield and the surrounding area.
- Gatherings after the committal
- Village hall wakes
- Anniversary memorials
Book the van in Arborfield
Funeral and wake catering in Arborfield, cooked to order
Some families choose it because it was a loved one’s favourite. Whether it’s gatherings at home after a funeral and memorial events and anniversaries, we’ll put together a menu of mushy peas, cod and chips and gravy for your guests.
In rural Arborfield, home or the hall is usual. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
Perfect for your wake in Arborfield
It suits all ages, from children to older relatives.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. In Arborfield, people book us for events such as:
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Wakes at venues
- A wake at the family home
For a service at a church like Church of St Bartholomew, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
What your quote should include
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- How late numbers can change
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- A clear list of what’s included
Space, access and the venue
Plenty of places work for the van, but a few things matter:
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A spot near your guests
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
What we serve
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
Towns and villages near Arborfield
What else we do in Arborfield
Working with your venue
Parks, greens and streets typically need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Wakes in Arborfield: venues and practical details
Arborfield is about 3 miles west of Wokingham, in Reading. We take fish and chips for the wake to drives, car parks, yards and venues around Arborfield and nearby villages. Arborfield is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
For family travelling by train, Winnersh station is about 2.5 miles away.
This part of Reading takes in RG2. Whether your wake is on Church Lane, Walden Avenue and Cartershill Lane or anywhere nearby, we can park up and fry there. For wakes just outside Arborfield, we cover 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). Larger places within reach include 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).
Other landmarks nearby include 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.
- Local schools include Bohunt School Wokingham (1.9 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include Swan Inn (0.6 miles south-east)
FAQs for Arborfield
How far is Arborfield from London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Could you trade in Pearman's Copse?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
What if we don’t know numbers?
Give us your best estimate, and we will plan with a little extra.
How long does set-up take?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We confirm all the timings beforehand.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All the cooking happens in the van. Tell us about power, water and bins at the site and we will confirm what we need.
Do you need power or water?
Let us know about power and water at the site in your enquiry, and we’ll say what we need.
What can guests choose from?
Proper fish and chips, with sausages and pies for anyone who does not want fish. The sides are mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including Reading. Find your area.
A closer look at the menu
Pie and chips
Pie and chips gives people a filling alternative to fish, perfect with gravy.
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
What happens on the day
On the day, we park up on the agreed spot, set up and heat the fryers. Once we’re hot, we cook to order, so we time it to your schedule. Summer evenings in Arborfield stay light until about 9:25pm, but in December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so plan lighting near the door.
- We start with a few details about your wake.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- On the day, we park up and fry fresh for family and friends.
- Everything goes out hot from the hatch, and we pack up afterwards.
How to prepare
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Clear the route for the van
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Let us know of any allergies
- Ask the venue about the van
When everyone has eaten, we pack up quietly.
A quiet room away from the crowd is a kindness.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works at home or at a hall. Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, along with distance and access to the site. Every booking gets its own quote.
Why us?
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- No surprises in your quote
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
- Everything cooked to order at your event
Take a look at our prices page and the cost guide.
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.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
- 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