Hampshire · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Bidden events
We bring fish and chips for the wake across Bidden and Hampshire, frying fresh at your venue and serving from the hatch.
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Small family memorials
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
Funeral and wake catering in Bidden
Funeral and wake catering in Bidden, cooked to order
We keep it calm and simple. We park discreetly and serve when people are ready. Popular choices include gravy, sausage and chips and mushy peas, and we’re often booked for gatherings after scattering ashes and memorial gatherings.
In a small place like Bidden, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. You will know what’s included before you book: the date, the service time and the menu, with no surprises on the day.
Perfect for your wake in Bidden
It suits all ages.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Remembrance gatherings
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- A tribute meal
After a service at Church of St Mary, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Before you book anyone
- When payment is due
- Whether travel is included
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- What happens if plans change
A chip van compared with other options
Making food yourself for a wake is a lot to take on. We do the cooking. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why book with us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- A quote that spells everything out
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
Organising for someone else?
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work through them with you.
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Bidden
Is Bidden too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Bidden close to London?
Roughly 43 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
What about guests who don’t eat fish?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
Can the van park on the street?
It depends on the road. Off-road parking is generally simpler; if it has to be the street, check with the council.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible.
Can someone else arrange it?
Yes. We are happy to deal with the funeral director or a family friend.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
How fast is service?
That depends on numbers, menu and timing. Tell us your numbers and how long you have for food, and we’ll plan service around it.
What affects the price in Bidden
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Cod, haddock or both
- The length of service
- The date and time of year
- Travel, tolls and road charges
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
Not sure of numbers yet? That’s fine: give us a rough idea and the date, and we will quote on that. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. We suggest:
- Name a contact for the day who is not close family
- Mention allergies you know about
- Ensure older relatives can sit
- Cater for a few more than you expect
A friend or the funeral director can be our contact.
A tea table run by a friend is a comfort.
Wakes in Bidden: venues and practical details
Bidden is about 4 miles south of Hook, in Hampshire. Across the RG25 area, we can bring the van to you. Bidden is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. We serve events right across the region, from Bidden to Reading (15 miles away).
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is Hook station, roughly 3.6 miles north of the centre.
This part of Hampshire takes in RG25, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. Whether your wake is on Bidden Road, Elder Dell and Meadowside or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the van to you. Close by, we cover wakes in Little Hoddington (1 mile west), South Warnborough (1 mile south-east), Long Sutton (2 miles east), Greywell (2 miles north-east) and Up Nately (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (5 miles north-west), Farnborough (11 miles north-east), Fleet (7 miles north-east), Aldershot (10 miles east), Alton (6 miles south) and Yateley (10 miles north-east).
Nearby you will also find Gliding Heritage Centre (3.4 miles south-west) and Odiham Castle (2.5 miles north-east). Open spaces near Bidden include The Mill Field and Holybourne Hill.
- Nearby, you will find Hoddington Arms Public House (within half a mile west)
Places near Bidden
What else we do in Bidden
The process
The first sign we’ve arrived is generally the smell, about the time the first guests wander across. After that, it’s a steady flow to the hatch. In Bidden, it is dark by about 7:05pm in late September and 4:00pm in December.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- Show us where the van would go, and we will confirm it works.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Make sure the van can get in
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What comes out of the fryer
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it is the favourite in much of the south. It’s battered and fried to order, so it is crisp when it reaches you.
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Before you choose a spot
Plenty of places work for the van, but a few things matter:
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- A clear area by the serving hatch
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Bidden
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
- 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