Reading · England
Fish and chip van for parties in Southcote, Reading
We bring a fish and chip van for your party to Southcote and nearby, cooking to order on site and serving from the hatch.
- Neighbourhood get-togethers
- Garden get-togethers
- Kids’ birthday parties
Planning an event in Southcote?
Planning the van’s spot
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but there are a few things to check:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
From the hatch
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Chips
- Curry sauce
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
About our party fish and chip van in Southcote
It’s a treat that feels special without being formal: paper portions of fish and chips in the garden. We’re often asked to cater summer garden parties and family reunions, serving gravy, curry sauce and pie and chips.
For a party in Southcote, home is often the best venue. Let us know how the van reaches the house, and we’ll do the rest. We cook inside the van, right where your guests are, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
What comes out of the fryer
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it is what most people in the south ask for. It is battered and fried to order, so it’s crisp when it reaches you.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: sweeter and a touch firmer than cod. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Places near Southcote
Other occasions in Southcote
Southcote questions
Can you serve after a service at St Matthew's?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you will gather.
Can the van park in Calcot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them first.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
No, not as standard: batter is normally made with wheat flour. Tell us about any coeliac guests and we will explain the options before booking.
How far ahead should we book a party?
Summer Saturdays book up first, so it pays to ask early.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. We’ll agree arrival and serving times with you so food is ready when you want it.
Can you cater for allergies?
Tell us about allergies when you book, and we will give you the allergen information.
Do you cover Southcote?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Southcote. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
What about guests who don’t eat fish?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Tell us about other diets and we will be honest about what’s possible.
Planning a party in Southcote
Southcote is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. People in Southcote book us for all sorts of reasons, but it always starts the same way: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We cover all 34 towns and villages in Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Reading Green Park station, about 1.1 miles south. If you had Calcot Park in mind, ask the council or landowner first: vans cannot simply park up and serve in a public park.
Anywhere in RG30, RG31 and RG1, we can bring the van to you. We can serve a party on streets such as Bath Road, Dwyer Road and Brunel Road, as long as there is somewhere for the van. Neighbouring places where we serve parties include Fords Farm (1 mile west), Horncastle (1 mile west), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south-west), Tilehurst Within (1 mile north-west) and Norcot (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also take the van to Caversham (3 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (6 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (5 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Beaumys Castle (4.7 miles south) and Battle Hospital (1.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Nearby schools include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-west) and Elvian School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Happy Prospect pub (less than half a mile east)
The process
The first sign we have arrived is usually the smell, about the time the first guests wander across. After that, it is a steady flow to the hatch. For a late-May party in Southcote, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it is about 9:25pm. After dark, light the area around the van.
- It starts with your date, address and numbers.
- We check where the van can park and send a price.
- We arrive, park on the drive or agreed spot and set up.
- We serve hot from the hatch while the party carries on.
- We pack up when we’re done and leave the pitch tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
Ask for a quote
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers, timings and travel. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Southcote? Fish and chips is a reliable crowd-pleaser. Give us the details and we’ll suggest how it could work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Tell the neighbours the van is coming
- Count children separately
- Check parking restrictions if the van is on the street
- Have a back-up for special diets
It is worth telling the neighbours, or invite them.
Finish with the birthday cake.
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The date and time of year
- Numbers
- How easy the site is to reach
- Whether a minimum applies
A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. We will send you a quote.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- Anything awkward about the way in
- A picture of where the van would go
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your party in Southcote, and we will come back with availability and a quote.
Perfect for your party in Southcote
With a van, the host gets to enjoy the party. And it’s fun.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Children’s parties
- Retirement parties
- Family reunions
- Street parties
A christening at St Matthew's followed by fish and chips on the drive is a simple, popular plan.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- How much space the van takes up
- Whether VAT is included
- The cancellation terms
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Next to a DIY barbecue, the host isn’t stuck cooking all afternoon. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. A short menu is often the best value.
What you get with us
- Something for guests to gather round
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
Read how we price and what a fish and chip van costs.
- 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