Wokingham · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Woodley
Planning fish and chips for the wake in Woodley? The van comes to your venue, home or workplace and fry everything fresh on the spot.
- Pub wakes
- Life celebrations
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
Fresh fish and chips in Woodley
How our funeral and wake catering works in Woodley
Fish and chips is informal, which suits a gathering where people mingle. Whether it is gatherings after the committal and a tribute meal, we’ll put together a menu of gravy, haddock and chips and mushy peas and more.
For a wake in Woodley, somewhere close to the church or crematorium helps, with parking for the van. Everything is fried fresh at your wake, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet, and handed over as soon as it is ready.
Before you choose a spot
We will agree the van’s spot with you before the day. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
From the hatch
- Pie and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear. The main things that affect it are:
- The day of the week
- Parking and the way in
- Numbers
- How far we travel
Most vans have a minimum charge, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. Ask us what applies to your wake.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Where the van would park
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- A picture of the space and the way in
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat, and we will reply with a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Questions from Woodley
Can the van park in Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
What’s the nearest station to Woodley?
Winnersh Triangle station, about 1.2 miles south of the centre.
Do you bring everything you need?
All the cooking happens in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site and we will confirm what we need.
What about guests who do not eat fish?
Sausage and chips and pie and chips are on the menu. Tell us about other diets and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
Is the fish gluten-free?
No, not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do.
Can the van park on grass?
It depends on the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and send a picture if you can.
What if the service runs late?
Yes. We start when you are ready.
What does the van need?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, that the van can reach easily. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Takeaway run or book a van?
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
Food your guests will love
Cod and chips
Cod has big, soft white flakes and a mild flavour, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. It’s battered and fried to order.
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, perfect with chips or a sausage.
Planning for dietary needs
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Name a contact for the day who is not close family
- Tell us about any close family with allergies
- Plan seating for older guests
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
Seats for older guests near the hall or house help.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
Also near Woodley
What else we do in Woodley
Wakes in Woodley: venues and practical details
Woodley is about 3 miles east of Reading, in Wokingham. Around Woodley, we park wherever there’s level, firm ground. Woodley is one of 35 towns and villages in Wokingham we cover.
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is Winnersh Triangle station, roughly 1.2 miles south of the centre. Families holding a service at United Reformed Church often gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
Anywhere in RG5, RG6 and RG10, we can bring the van to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can serve a wake on streets such as Church Road, Jasmine Square and London Road or the roads around them, as long as there is somewhere for the van. You’ll find Woodley on the A4 and A3290, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van. For wakes just outside Woodley, we cover Charvil (2 miles north), Whistley Green (2 miles east), Winnersh (2 miles south), Hurst (2 miles east) and Twyford (2 miles north-east). We also serve nearby towns such as Reading (3 miles west), Wokingham (4 miles south-east), Crowthorne (7 miles south-east), Woosehill (3 miles south-east), Emmbrook (3 miles south-east) and Coley Park (4 miles west). Being one of Wokingham’s larger places, Woodley has lots of places where the van can park.
Other landmarks nearby include Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.1 miles south) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.7 miles west). Open spaces near Woodley include South Lake and Alder Moors.
- Schools near Woodley include Waingels College (0.8 miles north) and The Bulmershe School (0.9 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Bull And Chequers pub (under half a mile north)
A chip van compared with other options
A formal meal does not always suit. Fish and chips lets people mingle. Distance and any road charges make a difference, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Why book with us
- Classic food your guests already know
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- All the chip-shop extras
Take a look at how we price and the cost guide.
Step by step
Setting up takes a little while, because the oil has to come up to temperature, so we are there in good time before you want to eat. Sunset in Woodley is about 7:05pm in late September and about 3:55pm in December; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. A photo of the spot helps too. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
For planners, venues and organisers
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’ll confirm what we can provide.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
- 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