Surrey · England
Funeral and wake catering in Caterham, Surrey
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, fish and chips for the wake makes the food a highlight of your wake in Caterham.
- A wake at the family home
- Anniversary memorials
- Life celebrations
A chip van near Caterham
The menu, dish by dish
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion and it’s on the menu.
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it goes perfectly with a pie.
Funeral and wake catering in Caterham, fried fresh
We cook as people come up. For family gatherings after a burial or cremation and remembrance gatherings, we will put together a menu of gravy, cod and chips and haddock and chips.
In a town like Caterham, a wake at the family home or the local hall is common. We park on the drive or in the hall car park. We cook inside the van, right where your guests are, and the food reaches them hot and crisp.
Looking after everyone
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Make sure older relatives can sit
- Build in time for delays
We park quietly before guests return from the service.
A table of photos helps people talk.
How it works
There is very little for you to do on the day: show us the spot, tell us when to start, and enjoy your wake. We handle the cooking and serving. In summer, a wake in Caterham has light until about 9:20pm, while winter afternoons darken by about 3:55pm.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Before we arrive
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Share the timings for the day
Getting a price
Still finalising the details? No problem: tell us the basics about your wake, and we will quote on that. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What a fish and chip van costs
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The menu and how many choices
- Service time
- Numbers
- The minimum booking
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu and timing to match. Keeping the menu short is typically the best value.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Your date and serving time
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- Dietary needs, with numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can use our quote form.
Wake catering near Caterham
Caterham is about 11 miles south-west of Orpington, in Surrey. We cover Caterham as standard, so your wake just needs a date, a spot for the van and a serving time. Caterham is one of 395 places in Surrey where we bring the van. Our bookings stretch from Caterham to London (about 15 miles away).
Relatives driving in can use the B2030 and B2031 to reach Caterham. Families holding a service at Sacred Heart Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
Wakes anywhere in CR3 start with a parking spot for the van. Streets in the area include High Street, London Road and Park Road, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Caterham is on the B2030 and B2031, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Woldingham Garden Village (2 miles east), Tyler's Green (2 miles south-east), Woldingham (3 miles east), Godstone (3 miles south) and Church Town (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Epsom (8 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles south-west), Redhill (5 miles south-west), Ewell (8 miles north-west), Reigate (6 miles south-west) and Walton-on-Thames (15 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Bletchingley Castle (3.4 miles south) and East Surrey Museum (0.6 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Mercers Lake.
- Schools near Caterham include de Stafford School (0.5 miles north-east) and Sunnydown School (0.6 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The King And Queen Public House (under half a mile south-east)
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the wake.
Also near Caterham
More for events in Caterham
Before you choose a spot
Plenty of places work for the van, but there are a few things to check:
- Access wide and high enough for the van
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
From the hatch
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
Who books funeral and wake catering in Caterham?
It’s one less thing to organise at a difficult time.
Here are some of the occasions we serve around Caterham:
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Family meals after the service
- Life celebrations
If relatives are coming by rail, the closest railway station is Caterham station, roughly 0.7 miles south-east of the centre.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- How allergens are handled
- If the price includes VAT
FAQs for Caterham
Which station is closest to Caterham?
Caterham station, about 0.7 miles south-east of the centre.
We’re gathering after a service at Sacred Heart Church: can you come?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
Can you serve children?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Tell us how many are coming.
What does it cost to hire the van?
It depends on numbers, the menu, how long we serve and travel. Tell us about your wake and we’ll send a quote.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including Surrey. Find your area.
What can guests choose from?
Proper fish and chips, plus sausage or pie and chips. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
Do you take everything away?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for guests are worth planning.
What about guests who do not eat fish?
There is: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
For event organisers in Caterham
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Tell us what your venue needs and we will confirm what we can provide.
Parks, greens and streets typically need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
- 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