Reading · England
Fish and Chip Van Hire for Shinfield events
We bring a fish and chip van to Shinfield and nearby, cooking to order on site and serving from the hatch.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Festive get-togethers
- Community events and fairs
Book the van in Shinfield
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat bookings, such as regular staff lunches or annual fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, a facilities manager or an organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Fish and chip van hire in Shinfield, cooked to order
Keep it simple, or plan every detail: open service, or food at a fixed time. We’ll suggest what suits your event. For weddings and evening receptions and gatherings after a funeral, we can cook sausage and chips, gravy and cod and chips for your guests.
Around Shinfield, bookings are often at homes, local halls and clubs. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the route. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, not cooked earlier and kept warm, and handed over as soon as it is ready.
Planning for dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Ask about allergies on your invitation or sign-up form
- Fewer choices mean faster service
- Tell us about vegetarian and vegan guests early
- Plan something for guests whose needs we can’t meet
A short menu keeps service quick, especially when everyone wants to eat at once.
A gazebo by the van keeps the queue dry.
FAQs for Shinfield
Is Shinfield close to London?
About 37 miles from central London.
Could you trade in Pearman's Copse?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
How does fish and chip van hire work?
The van comes to you, fry everything to order, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Tell us whether there is power or water nearby and we’ll confirm the rest.
Where can the van park?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a photo.
Which fish do you use?
Both are on our menu; we’ll agree the choice when we quote.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
That depends on the weather and the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we will advise.
The menu, dish by dish
Cod and chips
Cod and chips is the meal most people picture when they think of a chip shop. Fried to order in the van, it goes out hot and crisp.
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
A fish and chip van in Shinfield: local details
Shinfield is about 3 miles south of Reading, in Reading. Tell us where your event in Shinfield will be, and we’ll plan the route and the parking spot before the day. Shinfield is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
PTAs at schools such as Shinfield Infant and Nursery School frequently look for a hot-food stall for fairs and sports days. A green space like Pearman's Copse is tempting, but a catering van there needs the landowner’s say-so, normally the council’s.
Anywhere in RG2, we can fry fresh for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Teal Grove, Songbird Close and Skylark Way; an event on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. We also bring the van to events 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). Larger places within reach include 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 plenty of venues, halls and workplaces.
Well-known places in the area include Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.9 miles north-east) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.1 miles north). Open spaces near Shinfield include Longwater and Sonning Hill.
- Nearby schools include Oakbank (0.7 miles west) and Ryeish Green School (0.7 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include Bell & Bottle pub (within half a mile south-east)
What a fish and chip van costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The day of the week
- The minimum booking
- Numbers
- Service time
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, along with distance and access to the site. Every booking gets its own quote.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything awkward about the way in
- A photo of the space and the way in
- The date and time of the event
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: tell us the basics about your event, and we will firm it up nearer the time. To start, use our quote form.
Also in Shinfield
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and there is nothing warming on a chilly day. Fish and chips is fried to order and served hot. 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 book our van in Shinfield
- Something for guests to gather round
- We cover Shinfield and the whole of Reading
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
Read how we price and what a fish and chip van costs.
What the van needs
We will be honest if a spot won’t work. What matters most:
- Confirmation that the van can park there
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Shinfield
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Chips
- Curry sauce
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
Who books fish and chip van hire in Shinfield?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in car parks, yards and fields where other catering struggles.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. In Shinfield, people book us for occasions like:
- Festive get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
- Staff thank-you lunches
- Wakes and gatherings after a funeral
After a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin, the van can be waiting at a nearby hall or house.
Before you book anyone
- What the price includes, item by item
- The deposit and payment dates
- What happens if plans change
- VAT, if it applies
How the day works
The first sign we’ve arrived is typically the smell. From then on, people come up as they’re ready. By late September, sunset in Shinfield is around 7:05pm, and at Christmas it comes at about 3:55pm. After dark, a lit path to the van makes a difference.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- On the day, we park up and fry fresh for your guests.
- We serve from the hatch, then leave the pitch tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Share the timings for the day
- Name one person we can call on the day
Get a quote
Send us the date, the address or RG2 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time, and you’ll get a clear price. To get started, use our quote form.
Related guides
- 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