Reading · England
Funeral and wake catering in Fords Farm, Reading
A menu everybody knows: fish and chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Funeral and wake catering in Fords Farm.
- Family meals after the service
- A tribute meal
- Celebrations of life
Funeral and wake catering for Fords Farm events
Funeral and wake catering in Fords Farm, cooked to order
Some families choose it because it was a loved one’s favourite. We’re frequently asked to cater gatherings at home after a funeral and celebrations of life, with mushy peas, cod and chips and sausage and chips.
In Fords Farm, the hall is often where people gather. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
Fords Farm questions
Can you serve after a service at St Matthew's?
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 generally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Could you trade in Calcot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first.
What does it cost to hire the van?
We quote for each booking, based on your numbers and timings. Tell us your date and rough numbers and we will reply with a price.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we’ll advise.
How much space do you need?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, and space for a queue. Tell us about gates, lanes and soft ground.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including Reading. See all areas.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. Everything is fried fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
How long does set-up take?
That depends on your numbers and timings. We agree arrival, serving and finishing times with you before the day.
Diets, allergies and planning
Tell us about dietary needs and allergies early, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer. To make it work smoothly:
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Plan seating for older guests
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
Seats for older guests near the hall or house help.
A table of photos helps people talk.
A closer look at the menu
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the side most people expect.
Is a fish and chip van right for your wake?
Many wakes have sandwiches and cake. Hot food can be more welcome. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- Events in Fords Farm and across Reading
- No surprises in your quote
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
The process
Serving is straightforward: food goes from the fryer to the hatch, and people can eat where they like. Afterwards we pack up. In Fords Farm, it is dark by about 7:10pm in late September and 3:55pm in December, so a lit path to the van is a kindness to older guests.
- You, or your funeral director, tell us the date, the place and rough numbers.
- You get an access check and a quote, without fuss.
- We plan a flexible serving time around the service.
- We serve calmly from the hatch when everyone is ready.
- Afterwards we pack up quietly and leave the spot tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the timings for the day
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
Get a quote
We only need a few details to quote: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Fords Farm: halls, homes and travel
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. From the centre of Fords Farm to the outskirts, we offer the same service: fish and chips fried to order, served hot and quoted clearly. We take the van to 34 places across Reading.
For a service at a church like St Matthew's, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Anywhere in RG30 and RG31, we can fry fresh for your guests. Streets in the area include Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Close by, we cover wakes in Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Fords Farm include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Schools near Fords Farm include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Fords Farm?
It works for everyone.
Big or small, the van works the same way. Typical bookings include:
- Wakes at home
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Small family memorials
- A tribute meal
If relatives are coming by rail, Reading Green Park station, about 1.4 miles south-east, is the nearest station.
What your quote should include
- What happens if plans change
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- The deadline for final numbers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What the van needs
We’ll be honest if a spot will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
- A spot near your guests
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Whether a minimum applies
- How many people are eating
- Service time
- Parking and the way in
A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the van would park
- A picture of where the van would go
- Roughly how many people, including children
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We’ll send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Towns and villages near Fords Farm
Also in Fords Farm
- 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