West Berkshire · England
Funeral and wake catering in Headley, West Berkshire
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Headley and the surrounding area.
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Remembrance gatherings
Book the van in Headley
Common questions in Headley
Could you trade in New Greenham Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first.
How far is Headley from London?
About 51 miles from central London.
Where do you take the van?
We take the van across London and the South East, West Berkshire included. See all areas.
Can the wake be at home?
Yes. Tell us about parking at the house.
What if the weather’s bad?
The weather doesn’t stop the van, because the cooking happens inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
What if the service runs late?
We plan for delays. We will work to your contact on the day.
Can the van come to Headley?
We do. We serve events in Headley and across West Berkshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Do you fry it on site?
It is. The fryers are in the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
How our funeral and wake catering works in Headley
We work quietly and simply. We park discreetly and serve when people are ready. Whether it’s wakes at a pub or venue with outside space and remembering a loved one’s favourite food, we can cook sausage and chips, pie and chips and haddock and chips and more.
In a small place like Headley, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Let us know about access. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your wake, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
- Area
- Headley (RG19)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- On the menu
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Towns and villages near Headley
What else we do in Headley
Planning the van’s spot
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
How the day works
Here’s how the day generally runs: the van arrives and we set up, the oil comes up to temperature, and food goes out hot at the agreed time. Late-December sunset in Headley is about 4:00pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- First, the plan: what, where and what time.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks.
- On the day, everything is cooked to order, so nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
- The pitch is left tidy when we go.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. You can use our quote form.
Related guides
Working with your venue
Parks, greens and streets generally need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
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.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
How we price fish and chips for the wake
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The date and time of year
- Any minimum charge
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- Cod, haddock or both
A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- A photo of the parking spot
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
Still finalising the details? That’s fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. To start, fill in our quote form.
Occasions we serve in Headley
It works for everyone, from children to older relatives.
Whatever brings people together, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We regularly serve:
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings after the committal
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- A wake at the family home
If relatives are coming by rail, the closest railway station is Thatcham station, roughly 2.3 miles north of the centre.
Comparing caterers
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- VAT, if it applies
- Allergen information for each item
What comes out of the fryer
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it is especially welcome on a cold day.
Wake catering near Headley
Headley is about 3 miles south of Thatcham, in West Berkshire. Bookings in Headley come in all shapes and sizes, but it always starts the same way: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. We serve 155 places across West Berkshire. You can also see our page for Reading, about 13 miles away.
For a service at a church like Church of St Peter, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Wherever your wake is in RG19, we can fry fresh for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your wake is on Ashford Hill Road, Thornford Road and Harrow Drive or anywhere nearby, we will bring the van to you. We also bring the van to wakes in Mill Green (1 mile east), Plastow Green (1 mile south-east), Heads Hill (1 mile north-west), Goose Hill (1 mile east) and Bishop's Green (1 mile west). Further out, we also take the van to Newbury (4 miles north-west), Thatcham (3 miles north), Burghfield Common (9 miles east), Speenhamland (4 miles north-west), Hungerford (12 miles west) and Spencers Wood (12 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find West Berkshire Community Hospital (3.5 miles north-west) and Old Chapel Textile Centre (1.4 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Thatcham Reed Beds and Ladle Hill.
A chip van compared with other options
Sandwiches are traditional at wakes. Hot food can be more welcome, especially in winter. Larger groups normally cost less per head, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why book our van in Headley
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- A menu almost everyone likes
- All the chip-shop extras
- 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