Reading · England
Party Fish and Chip Van in Play Hatch
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, a fish and chip van for your party makes the food a highlight of your party in Play Hatch.
- Get-togethers with old friends
- Family celebrations after a christening
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
A chip van near Play Hatch
Parties in Play Hatch: homes, halls and local tips
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. Wherever your party is in the RG4 area, we can fry fresh for your guests. We take the van to 34 places across Reading.
If guests are coming by rail, Reading station, about 2.2 miles south-west, is the nearest station. A green space like Ali's Pond Local Nature Reserve is tempting, but a catering van there needs the landowner’s say-so, normally the council’s.
Parties anywhere in RG4 start with a parking spot for the van and a serving time. Local streets include Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane; a party on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Other places close to Play Hatch we cover include Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Within reach you will find Alder Moors and South Lake.
- Schools near Play Hatch include Reading Blue Coat School (1 mile south-east) and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.8 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find The Shoulder of Mutton pub (within half a mile south-west)
Party fish and chip van in Play Hatch, fried fresh
With a chip van, the host gets to enjoy the party too. We park up, fry to order and hand it over hot. We serve sausage and chips, gravy and cod and chips, and we are frequently booked for family celebrations after a christening and family reunions.
A country party near Play Hatch is perfect for fish and chips: fried fresh and eaten outside. Have a firm back-up spot for wet weather. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
Space, access and the venue
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but there are a few things to check:
- Lighting nearby for evening events
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we serve
- Sausage and chips
- Chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Curry sauce
- Cod and chips
- Pie and chips
Questions from Play Hatch
We are gathering after a service at St Andrew's Church: can you come?
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 normally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Is Play Hatch close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Who clears up?
We pack up and leave the pitch tidy when service is finished. Let us know about bins for guests.
Do you do anything other than fish?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Tell us about other diets and we will tell you what we can offer.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
We quote for each booking, so the price fits what you need. Give us your date, numbers and serving time for a clear quote.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Do you come to Play Hatch?
We do. We serve events in Play Hatch and across Reading. Send us your date to check availability.
Looking after everyone
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Make sure the van can park legally
- Put allergy details in writing
- Ask about dietary needs on the invitation
- A picture of the parking spot helps
For a children’s party, serve food about an hour in.
Seats or a few tables help people eat comfortably.
Organising for someone else?
Many venues set rules for catering vans: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work through them with you.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Events we cater in Play Hatch
No washing up, no cold buffet to throw away, which makes the morning after much easier.
These are some of the bookings we take:
- Leaving parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Neighbourhood get-togethers
- Family reunions
Within reach of Play Hatch are historic houses such as Mapledurham House (4.4 miles west) and Greys Court (4.6 miles north). For most parties, a home or hall is easier than a historic venue with strict vehicle rules.
Before booking anyone
- The deadline for final numbers
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The service time, and the cost of running over
What a fish and chip van costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Your choice of menu
- How long we serve
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- How easy the site is to reach
There is no one-size-fits-all price for a fish and chip van. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. Your quote spells it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your party, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The date and time of the event
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Expected numbers
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your party in Play Hatch, and we will check the date and send a price.
Nearby places to Play Hatch
Also in Play Hatch
Is a fish and chip van right for your party?
A takeaway order for a party takes ages and arrives lukewarm. The van cooks right there. Larger groups normally cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book our van in Play Hatch
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- The queue at the hatch gets people talking
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
How it works
When we arrive, we park up on the agreed spot, set up and heat the fryers. Once we’re hot, we cook to order, timed around your party. A summer party in Play Hatch stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. In late September it’s dark by about 7:05pm; add lights for the evening.
- You tell us the date, the address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat.
- We check where the van can park and send a price.
- On the day, we park up and get the fryers going.
- We fry fresh and serve from the hatch as your guests come up.
- Afterwards, we clear up and leave you to it.
Preparing for the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Let us know the serving time
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
How to get a price
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. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
What comes out of the fryer
Pie and chips
Pie and chips gives people a filling alternative to fish.
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, perfect with chips or a sausage.
- 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