Oxfordshire · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire in Purley on Thames
Fish and chip van hire in Purley on Thames: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, and served hot from the hatch.
- Work Christmas parties
- Village fêtes and school fairs
- Wakes and gatherings after a funeral
A chip van near Purley on Thames
How our fish and chip van hire works in Purley on Thames
Fish and chips is generous food: big pieces of fish, crisp batter and a mountain of chips. It makes the food a talking point. We serve mushy peas, sausage and chips and pie and chips, and we are frequently booked for fish and chip days at care homes and staff lunches and team days.
In and around Purley on Thames, homes and village halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the route. Your quote spells out what’s included: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed.
- Where
- Purley on Thames (RG8, RG31, RG4)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- From the fryer
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- Sides
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Why choose a fish and chip van in Purley on Thames?
Barbecues cook in batches, and someone has to stand over the grill. With a van, nobody misses the event. Most vans have a minimum charge, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. We’ll tell you up front.
Why book with us
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- Classic food your guests already know
- A van that becomes part of the event
- Bookings across Oxfordshire, including Purley on Thames
See how we price and the cost guide.
About the food
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there is pie and chips.
FAQs for Purley on Thames
What’s the nearest station to Purley on Thames?
Tilehurst station, about 1 mile south-east of the centre.
Is Purley on Thames close to London?
About 41 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Not as standard: batter is normally made with wheat flour. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, then handed over hot from the hatch.
What do you bring?
Everything is cooked in the van. Tell us about power, water and bins at the site.
Do you come to Purley on Thames?
Yes, we do. Purley on Thames is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What happens if it rains?
The weather doesn’t stop the van, because the cooking happens inside. Very soft ground can be a problem, so plan a back-up spot on a hard surface.
What does the van need?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
What happens on the day
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up where we’ve agreed, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Purley on Thames until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting by the van.
- You tell us the date, the address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat.
- We check the date and the space for the van, then send a quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, park up and heat the fryers.
- We fry to order and serve from the hatch at the agreed time.
- Afterwards, we clear up and head off.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Prices and what affects them
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- The number of meals
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- Parking and the way in
- The menu and how many choices
Fish and chip van prices depend on the booking. A one-hour staff lunch is a different job from serving all afternoon at a fête. We set everything out in your quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Where the event is
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Allergies and diets you know about
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll come back with availability and a quote.
Purley on Thames: venues, parking and local tips
Purley on Thames is about 3 miles west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. For an event in Purley on Thames, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields. We serve all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire.
For a fundraiser at a school like Purley CofE Primary School, the van can trade from a pitch agreed with the school. For a christening or celebration after a service at a church such as Church of St Mary, the van can serve at a hall or home nearby.
We serve events across RG8, RG31 and RG4. Streets in the area include Glebe Road, Hazel Road and Menpes Road, and the van can serve an event on any of them with a suitable parking spot. If your venue is just outside Purley on Thames, we also cover Mapledurham (1 mile north-east), Tilehurst (1 mile south), Sulham (1 mile south-west), Little Heath (2 miles south) and Trench Green (2 miles north-east). We also serve nearby towns such as Didcot (12 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles north-east), Benson (10 miles north), Wallingford (9 miles north-west), Great Western Park (13 miles north-west) and Watlington (11 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Battle Hospital (2.6 miles south-east) and Royal Berkshire Regiment Museum (2.4 miles south-east). Within reach you’ll find Hosehill Lake and Moor Copse Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Denefield School (0.8 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find Roebuck pub (0.7 miles south-east)
Occasions we serve in Purley on Thames
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where people can wander up when they’re ready.
In Purley on Thames and nearby, the van turns up at all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Visits to care homes and day centres
- Company team days
- Evening wedding food
If guests are travelling by rail, Tilehurst station is about 1 mile away.
Questions to ask before you book
- If the price includes VAT
- Whether travel is included
- Any minimum charge
- Payment terms and deposit
Before you choose a spot
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but a few things matter:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- A spot near your guests
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Purley on Thames
- Cod and chips
- Curry sauce
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Chips
- Pie and chips
Looking after everyone
Most events have a few guests with dietary needs. To plan for them:
- Add an allergy question to your invitations
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Put bins and napkins by the van
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Keep the menu short and the queue moves quickly, especially when everyone wants to eat at once.
A string of bunting by the van makes a lovely photo.
Also near Purley on Thames
Also in Purley on Thames
Should I sort the food myself?
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
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 solves that by cooking on site.
- 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