Wokingham · England
Funeral and wake catering in Reading, Wokingham
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Book fish and chips for the wake in Reading.
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Village hall wakes
Planning an event in Reading?
For event organisers in Reading
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work through them with you.
Funeral and wake catering in Reading, cooked to order
The wake can be at home, at a village hall or club, or at a venue with space outside, wherever the van can park. Whether it is a wake at the family home and remembrance gatherings, we can cook gravy, haddock and chips and pie and chips and more.
A local hall or club in Reading frequently suits a wake, with the van in the car park. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we’ll be straight with you about what we can do.
Should I sort the food myself?
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and nobody has to miss the wake.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. Ask us for a quote and compare.
FAQs for Reading
Can the van park in Eldon Square?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them first.
How far is Reading from London?
Roughly 38 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac guests when you enquire, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a photo.
Who clears up?
We clear the van’s area after service. Tell us where bins can go for people’s paper and trays.
Is there a non-fish option?
Sausage and chips and pie and chips are on the menu. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we’ll tell you what we can offer.
What if the service runs late?
We allow for it. We will work to your contact on the day.
Do you serve wakes at home?
Frequently, yes. Send us a picture of the drive or the road outside.
Occasions we serve in Reading
For some families, it was a favourite meal.
Big or small, the van works the same way. Typical bookings include:
- Wakes at venues
- Anniversary memorials
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
With the A4 and A33 nearby, it’s easy for family travelling by car to reach Reading.
Comparing caterers
- How allergens are handled
- When payment is due
- What happens if plans change
- The service time, and the cost of running over
Why choose a fish and chip van in Reading?
For warm food after a funeral, a chip van is a gentle choice in Reading. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest how to make it work. A short menu is often the best value.
Why Reading hosts choose us
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- A quote that spells everything out
- No kitchen needed
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
See how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Towns and villages near Reading
More for events in Reading
About the food
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce, so we bring it along.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Fried to order in the van, it’s hot, crisp and generous.
Wakes in Reading: venues and practical details
Reading is about 38 miles west of London, in Wokingham. Bookings in Reading 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 35 places in Wokingham, from the larger towns to small villages.
For family travelling by train, Reading West station, about 0.7 miles north-west, is the nearest station. If the funeral is at a church such as All Nations Christian Centre, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Here we cover the RG6, RG31, RG1 and RG30 postcode area. That could mean a wake at a home on Downshire Square, Market Way and Market Place, wherever the van can park. You will find Reading on the A4 and A33, which makes the journey straightforward. Other places close to Reading we cover include Coley Park (1 mile south-west), West Reading (1 mile north-west), Newtown (1 mile east), Lower Caversham (1 mile north-east) and Whitley (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Wokingham (6 miles south-east), Woodley (3 miles east), Crowthorne (9 miles south-east), Lower Earley (3 miles south-east), Winnersh (4 miles east) and Woosehill (6 miles south-east). Being one of Wokingham’s larger places, Reading has plenty of venues, halls and workplaces.
Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (within half a mile north-east) and Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre Museum (0.8 miles east). The countryside around Reading includes Sonning Hill and Longwater.
- Local schools include Eurospeak Language School (0.5 miles north) and Kendrick School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include Former Kennet Arms (under half a mile east)
- Local facilities include University of Reading library (1.5 miles south-east)
Planning for dietary needs
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Plan for a few extra people
- Plan seating for older guests
- Let us know of any allergies
- Check the hall has an urn
Allow time for travel from the service, crematorium or burial ground when choosing a serving time.
A quiet room away from the crowd is a kindness.
Where the van can park in Reading
Before the day, we will agree where the van parks. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- Confirmation that the van can park there
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Reading
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
Step by step
From set-up to the last portion, we look after the food, so you can get on with your wake in Reading. Late-December sunset in Reading is about 3:55pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:25pm.
- Contact us 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.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Before we arrive
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A photo of the spot helps too. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Read more
- 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