West Berkshire · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Cold Ash events
We bring fish and chips for the wake to Cold Ash and nearby, frying fresh at your venue and serving from the hatch.
- Wakes at home
- Life celebrations
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
Fresh fish and chips in Cold Ash
Step by step
We do not cook ahead. Each portion is battered and fried as it is ordered, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. Late-December sunset in Cold Ash is about 4:00pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:25pm.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Clear the route for the van
Get a quote
Each quote is put together for your wake. Give us your date first, and we will check availability straight away.
Read more
How our funeral and wake catering works in Cold Ash
Services frequently run over, so we stay flexible. We’re often asked to cater gatherings after scattering ashes and memorial gatherings, serving mushy peas, haddock and chips and sausage and chips.
In a small place like Cold Ash, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Let us know about access. Everything is fried fresh at your wake, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
- Area
- Cold Ash (RG18)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Sides
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Nearby places to Cold Ash
Other occasions in Cold Ash
Space, access and the venue
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but a few things matter:
- A spot near your guests
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work through them with you.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
Cold Ash questions
Can the van go to venues in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
We are gathering after a service at St. Mark's Church: can you come?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is normally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Do you come to Cold Ash?
Yes, we do. We serve events in Cold Ash and across West Berkshire. Send us your date to check availability.
What happens if it rains?
The weather does not stop the van, because the fryers are inside. Soft ground after heavy rain is the bigger issue, so have a hard-surface spot in mind.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including West Berkshire. Find your area.
Do you take everything away?
The pitch is left as we found it. Bins for guests are worth planning.
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 to keep the queue moving.
What if we only have street parking?
Only where it’s legal to park, or with a council parking suspension or road closure. Ask your council early.
Wakes in Cold Ash: venues and practical details
Cold Ash is about 2 miles north of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. We cover Cold Ash as standard, so your wake just needs a date, a spot for the van and a serving time. We cover 155 places across West Berkshire. Our bookings stretch from Cold Ash to Reading (13 miles away).
If relatives are coming by rail, Thatcham station is about 2.3 miles away. Cold Ash is within about 7 miles of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Wakes anywhere in RG18 start with a parking spot for the van. We can serve a wake on streets such as Harewood Drive, Johnson's Lane and Walters Close, wherever the van can park. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Ashmore Green (1 mile south-west), Stone Copse (1 mile west), Longlane (2 miles north-west), Thatcham (2 miles south) and Wellhouse (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newbury (3 miles south-west), Burghfield Common (9 miles east), Speenhamland (3 miles south-west), Hungerford (11 miles west), Spencers Wood (13 miles east) and Calcot (9 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find West Berkshire Community Hospital (1.8 miles south-west) and British Balloon Museum & Library Ltd (3 miles south-west). Within reach you’ll find Nature Discovery Centre.
- Local schools include Kennet School (1.8 miles south-east)
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Ask the venue about the van
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Mention allergies you know about
- Make sure older relatives can sit
Seats for older guests near the hall or house help.
A tea table run by a friend is a comfort.
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
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.
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is generally the easier option.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
A sit-down meal can feel formal. A van keeps it relaxed. Larger groups generally cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- A clear quote before booking
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
Take a look at how we price and the cost guide.
Occasions we serve in Cold Ash
For some families, it was a favourite meal.
Whatever the occasion in Cold Ash, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We are often booked for:
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
- Wakes at home
- Wakes at venues
- Memorial gatherings
Families holding a service at St. Mark's Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
Before booking anyone
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- VAT, if it applies
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
About the food
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans.
Cod and chips
Cod and chips is the meal most people picture when they think of a chip shop. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it is hot, crisp and generous.
- 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