West Sussex · England
Funeral and wake catering in Chelwood Gate, West Sussex
Something for almost everyone: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Book fish and chips for the wake in Chelwood Gate.
- Wakes at venues
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after the committal
Funeral and wake catering in Chelwood Gate
Arranging a wake in Chelwood Gate
Chelwood Gate is about 6 miles south of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. Bookings in Chelwood Gate come in all shapes and sizes, but it always starts the same way: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our bookings stretch from Chelwood Gate to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
The High Weald National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Chelwood Gate; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH17, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. Whether your wake is on Beaconsfield Road, Stone Quarry Road and Isle of Thorns or a nearby road, we’ll bring the van to you. Close by, we cover wakes in Chelwood Common (1 mile south), Birchgrove (1 mile west), Wych Cross (1 mile north), Danehill (2 miles south-west) and Nutley (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also take the van to Crawley (10 miles north-west), Horsham (15 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (9 miles south-west), East Grinstead (6 miles north) and Broadfield (10 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Waterbury Castle (2.6 miles west) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (5.9 miles east). The countryside around Chelwood Gate includes Brickfield Meadow.
Funeral and wake catering in Chelwood Gate, cooked to order
The wake can be at home, at a village hall or club, or at a venue with space outside. We’re often asked to cater family meals after the service and wakes at a pub or venue with outside space, with cod and chips, sausage and chips and gravy.
In rural Chelwood Gate, home or the hall is usual, with the van in the yard or car park. You will know what’s included before booking: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Chelwood Gate (RH17)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Extras
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
Places near Chelwood Gate
Also in Chelwood Gate
Organising for someone else?
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.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Should I sort the food myself?
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
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 typically the easier option.
What happens on the day
Rain does not stop the fryers, because the cooking happens inside the van. Guests will still appreciate a bit of cover near the hatch. In Chelwood Gate, it’s dark by about 7:05pm in late September and 3:55pm in December.
- The family or funeral director sends us the date, place and numbers.
- We check the spot for the van and send a quote.
- Timings allow for the service and travel from it.
- On the day we set up quietly and serve when guests are ready.
- When everyone has eaten, we clear up and go.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the serving time
- Clear the route for the van
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
Getting a price
Send us the date, the address or RH17 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat, and we will reply with a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Planning the van’s spot
If a spot isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and help find another. The main points are:
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- A spot near your guests
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before you book.
From the hatch
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
What affects the price in Chelwood Gate
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Cod, haddock or both
- How many people are eating
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- How easy the site is to reach
A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- A picture of where the van would go
- Expected numbers
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
Still finalising the details? That’s fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. To start, use our quote form.
FAQs for Chelwood Gate
How far is Chelwood Gate from London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can the van go to venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
How many people should we cater for?
A rough estimate is enough to start. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
Can the wake be at home?
Often, yes. Tell us about parking at the house.
Do you have allergen information?
We provide allergen information for everything we serve. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Tell us about allergies in advance.
Do you bring everything you need?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes. Everything is fried fresh in the van, and serve straight from the hatch.
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Chelwood Gate?
It can be a fitting tribute.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. In Chelwood Gate, people book us for occasions like:
- Gatherings after the committal
- Pub wakes
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
After a service at Chelwood Gate Church, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether there is a minimum
- How much space the van takes up
- Allergen information for each item
- If the price includes VAT
Food your guests will love
Haddock and chips
Haddock has loyal fans: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Tell us if you’d like to offer it.
Sausage and chips
A sausage and chips is the chip-shop classic for younger guests and fish-dodgers.
Looking after everyone
We need to know about dietary needs and allergies in advance, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible. To make it work smoothly:
- Make sure older relatives can sit
- Check the hall has an urn
- Name a contact for the day who is not close family
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
Ensure older relatives can sit to eat.
Tea and coffee from the hall’s urn, or a friend’s tea table, goes well alongside.
- 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