Reading · England
Wedding Fish and Chip Van for Shinfield events
We bring a fish and chip van for your wedding to Shinfield and nearby, cooking to order on site.
- Rustic farm weddings
- Garden and marquee receptions
- Food after the first dance
Book the van in Shinfield
Shinfield: your questions answered
Can the van park in Pearman's Copse?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first.
Is Shinfield close to London?
About 37 miles from central London.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. We’ll agree arrival and serving times with you.
How many evening guests should we cater for?
It depends on how much was served earlier and when the evening food goes out. Most couples plan for most of their evening guests.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for guests are worth planning.
Do you fry it on site?
It is. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Can the van park on grass?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Let us know what the ground is like, and we’ll advise.
What do we need to supply?
Let us know about power and water at the site when you enquire, and we will say what we need.
About our wedding fish and chip van in Shinfield
A chip van is at home at barn, marquee and garden weddings, because there is typically somewhere firm for the van to park nearby. Whether it is rustic farm weddings and wedding after-parties, we can cook haddock and chips, mushy peas and sausage and chips for your guests.
In Shinfield, a local ceremony and a marquee reception is a lovely, personal choice. The van parks on a firm spot nearby for the evening. Let us know about access for the van. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your wedding, so the batter is still crisp when it is handed over.
How the day works
A typical booking goes like this: the van arrives and we set up, the fryers heat up, and we serve hot from the hatch at the agreed time. In Shinfield, evening wedding food frequently coincides with dusk: about 9:25pm at midsummer, 8:55pm in late May and 7:05pm in late September. A few lights by the hatch help guests and photos alike.
- You share your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- 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 are done.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Let us know the serving time
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Who books wedding fish and chip van in Shinfield?
It is food every generation enjoys.
Whatever the occasion in Shinfield, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We regularly serve:
- Vow renewal parties
- Food after the first dance
- Garden and marquee receptions
- Weddings with a seaside feel
After a ceremony at a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin, many couples move to a marquee or hall nearby, which is where the van comes in.
What to look for in a quote
- Payment terms and deposit
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When final numbers are due
- How many hours the van serves
What comes out of the fryer
Pie and chips
Pie and chips gives people a filling alternative to fish.
Sausage and chips
A sausage and chips is the chip-shop classic for younger guests and fish-dodgers.
DIY versus a fish and chip 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.
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is usually simpler.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Shinfield
Shinfield is about 3 miles south of Reading, in Reading. Bookings in Shinfield come in all shapes and sizes, but the plan is always the same: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. We take the van to 34 places across Reading.
Longwater nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos, and the countryside around Shinfield suits an outdoor reception. Within reach of Shinfield are historic houses such as Stratfield Saye House (4.5 miles south-west). Grand venues like these normally set rules for outside caterers, so ask before you book.
Wherever your wedding is in RG2, we can fry fresh for your guests. That could mean a wedding at a home on Teal Grove, Songbird Close and Skylark Way, wherever the van can park. Nearby, we also serve weddings in Ryeish Green (1 mile south-west), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-west), Three Mile Cross (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile west) and Arborfield (2 miles east). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (5 miles north), Norcot (5 miles north-west), West Reading (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (3 miles south-east) and Caversham Heights (5 miles north). Being one of Reading’s larger places, Shinfield has lots of places where the van can park.
A little further out are Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.9 miles north-east) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.1 miles north). Within reach you will find Longwater and Sonning Hill.
- Schools near Shinfield include Oakbank (0.7 miles west) and Ryeish Green School (0.7 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find Bell & Bottle pub (within half a mile south-east)
Planning the van’s spot
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, and a little planning goes a long way. Here’s what we look for:
- A short walk from the party
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Curry sauce
- Evening fish and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
Nearby places to Shinfield
Also in Shinfield
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear. What affects it most:
- The day of the week
- How long we serve
- Distance and any road charges
- How many people are eating
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so tell us exactly where your wedding is.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Your date and serving time
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The venue or postcode
Send us the date, the address or RG2 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time, and we’ll reply with a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
Parks, greens and streets usually need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Planning for dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Have bins ready for paper and trays
- Arrange an alternative for anyone who cannot eat from the van
- Not every evening guest eats: ask us how many to plan for
- Collect allergies with your RSVPs
If speeches or dances run over, we simply start a little later, so the food is still fresh.
A covered route from the marquee to the van helps if it rains.
- 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