Reading · England
Fish and chip van for parties in Fords Farm, Reading
Looking for a fish and chip van for your party in Fords Farm? We bring the van to you and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Garden parties and summer get-togethers
- Street parties
- Birthday parties
Party fish and chip van for Fords Farm events
How our party fish and chip van works in Fords Farm
The van can park on a drive, a hardstanding or a firm lawn, with the hatch facing your guests. Popular choices include haddock and chips, pie and chips and sausage and chips, and typical bookings are for leaving parties and kids’ birthday parties.
Parties around Fords Farm are often relaxed garden affairs. A chip van fits right in. We serve from the hatch, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once we’re up and running.
What affects the price in Fords Farm
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Distance and any road charges
- The menu and how many choices
- The length of service
- The date and time of year
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Where the van would park
- Rough numbers for adults and children
Thinking about a fish and chip van for your party for your party in Fords Farm? Send us the details and we’ll come back with a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
A chip van compared with other options
Compared with cooking a barbecue yourself, a chip van means nobody is stuck at the grill. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. We will tell you up front.
Why Fords Farm hosts choose us
- A van that becomes part of the event
- Hot food handed straight over
- Rain does not stop the fryers
- We cover Fords Farm and the whole of Reading
Take a look at our prices page and what a fish and chip van costs.
Who books party fish and chip van in Fords Farm?
It feels like a treat.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Summer garden parties
- Family reunions
- Neighbourhood get-togethers
- Retirement parties
Among the historic houses close to Fords Farm are Mapledurham House (3.1 miles north). Grand settings like these often have strict rules on vehicles and caterers, so for most parties a home or hired hall is simpler.
Before you book anyone
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- When payment is due
- How much space the van takes up
- VAT, if it applies
About the food
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans.
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Fords Farm: your questions answered
Could you trade in Calcot Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them first.
Can you serve after a service at St Matthew's?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you will gather.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Reading. Find your area.
What do you need at the house?
Let us know about power and water at the house, and we will say what we need.
How long will the queue be?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. Tell us your timings and we will advise.
Can you park at our house?
Often, yes, with a level drive and a clear way in. Send a picture of the drive and the way in.
Is grass a problem?
It depends on the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we’ll advise.
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 be honest about what’s possible.
Hosting a chip van party in Fords Farm
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. People in Fords Farm book us for all sorts of reasons, but the plan is always the same: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. Fords Farm is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
If the day starts at St Matthew's, the van can be ready at the house when everyone arrives. Parks such as Calcot Park generally need permission from the council or landowner for a catering van, so check first.
Anywhere in RG30 and RG31, we can fry fresh for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean a party at a home on Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. Nearby, we also serve parties in Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). We also serve nearby towns such as 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).
A little further out are 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 will find The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
Where the van can park in Fords Farm
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. These are the things we check:
- A spot near your guests
- Confirmation that the van can park there
- Lighting nearby for evening events
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Curry sauce
- Pie and chips
How the day works
Changes on the day are fine: we can start a little later or slow the pace to suit your party. At midsummer, it’s light in Fords Farm until about 9:25pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- You share 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.
Before we arrive
- Ensure the van can get in
- Let us know the serving time
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
Getting a price
Each quote is put together for your party. Give us your date first, and we’ll check availability straight away.
Read more
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Frying for a crowd at home is not a good idea: big pans of hot oil, children and garden parties don’t mix. Leave the frying to a van built for it.
Working with your venue
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on arrival and serving times.
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