West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Blackstone events
Something for almost everyone: fish and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Funeral and wake catering in Blackstone.
- A tribute meal
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- A wake at the family home
A chip van near Blackstone
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Blackstone
Fish and chips is informal, which suits a gathering where people mingle. For a wake at the family home and small family memorials, we’ll put together a menu of gravy, pie and chips and cod and chips and more.
For a wake near Blackstone, a farmhouse or village hall often works well. Your quote spells out what’s included: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Blackstone (BN5)
- County
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
The process
Setting up takes a little while, because the oil has to come up to temperature, so we’re there in good time before you want to eat. A wake in Blackstone in late autumn or winter may run into the dark, with sunset about 7:05pm in late September and 3:55pm in December.
- The family or funeral director sends us the date, place and numbers.
- You get an access check and a quote, without fuss.
- Timings allow for the service and travel from it.
- We serve calmly from the hatch when everyone is ready.
- We pack up when everyone has eaten and leave quietly.
Before we arrive
- Ensure the van can get in
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your wake in Blackstone, and we will come back with availability and a quote.
Read more
What a fish and chip van costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Cod, haddock or both
- Distance and any road charges
- The number of meals
- Parking and the way in
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest how to make it work. A short menu is frequently the best value.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of the parking spot
Send us the date, the address or BN5 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat, and we will reply with a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Should I sort the food myself?
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and you get to enjoy the day.
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is normally the easier option.
After a funeral in Blackstone
Blackstone is about 5 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Anywhere in BN5, we can bring the van to you. We serve 371 places across West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 8 miles away.
If relatives are coming by rail, Hassocks station, about 3.9 miles east, is the nearest station. The South Downs National Park is within about 6 miles of Blackstone, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
We cover wakes in every part of BN5 and the streets around it. Local streets include Blackstone Lane and Blackstone Street; a wake on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Woodmancote (1 mile south-west), High Cross (1 mile north-east), Albourne (1 mile east), Albourne Street (1 mile east) and Albourne Green (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Crawley (13 miles north), Horsham (10 miles north), Worthing (10 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (5 miles east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles north-east) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (3.6 miles east). The countryside around Blackstone includes Woods Mill and Wolstonbury Hill.
Is a fish and chip van right for your wake?
Making food yourself for a wake is a lot to take on. A van takes that off your hands. Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so tell us exactly where your wake is.
What you get with us
- All the chip-shop extras
- Quick service from the hatch
- Events in Blackstone and across West Sussex
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
Diets, allergies and planning
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Plan seating for older guests
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Mention allergies you know about
Remember the journey from the service.
A favourite cake can be a lovely touch.
The menu, dish by dish
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it is lovely with a pie.
Sausage and chips
For anyone who does not fancy fish, there’s sausage and chips, and children love it.
Blackstone questions
Can the van go to venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
We’re gathering after a service at The Parish Church of St Bartholomew: can you come?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is normally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
Can someone else arrange it?
Yes, many families prefer that.
What do you bring?
All the cooking happens in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
What if the service runs late?
We allow for it. We will work to your contact on the day.
Is there something for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers, and we will plan for them.
Can the wake be at home?
Often, yes. Send us a photo of the drive or the road outside.
Perfect for your wake in Blackstone
It can be a fitting tribute.
Here are some of the occasions we serve in Blackstone and West Sussex:
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
- Pub wakes
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Celebrations of life
Families holding a service at The Parish Church of St Bartholomew frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deadline for final numbers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The deposit and payment dates
- What the price includes, item by item
Towns and villages near Blackstone
Other occasions in Blackstone
Planners, venues and businesses
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Sending people up in groups helps.
- 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