Oxfordshire · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Cray's Pond
Funeral and wake catering in Cray's Pond: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch at the time you choose.
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Village hall wakes
- Life celebrations
Planning an event in Cray's Pond?
Funeral and wake catering in Cray's Pond, fried fresh
Food is fried to order, so it is hot when people arrive, after a long, cold day. For gatherings at home after a funeral and a tribute meal, we can cook mushy peas, pie and chips and sausage and chips for your guests.
In rural Cray's Pond, home or the hall is usual, with the van in the yard or car park. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
- Location
- Cray's Pond (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- On the menu
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- On the side
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For a crowd, a van is generally simpler.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. Ask us for a quote and compare.
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we position the van, set up the hatch and get the fryers up to temperature. Once we’re hot, we cook to order, so we time it to your schedule. In Cray's Pond, it’s dark by about 7:10pm in late September and 3:55pm in December.
- Tell us what you are planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance, and how it gets in.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Preparing for the day
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We’ll send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Planning help
Questions from Cray's Pond
Which station is closest to Cray's Pond?
The closest is Goring & Streatley station, roughly 2.1 miles away.
We’re gathering after a service at Church of St Leonard: can you come?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is normally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Can you serve children?
Of course. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Include children in your numbers.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, then handed over hot from the hatch.
What if we don’t know numbers?
It’s hard to know, so a rough number is fine. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
Can the van come to Cray's Pond?
Yes. We take the van across London and the South East, including Cray's Pond. For a quote, use our quote form.
Where do you take the van?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Cray's Pond.
How quickly can you come?
We understand the timescales, so ask and we’ll reply quickly.
Where the van can park in Cray's Pond
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Cray's Pond
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
Cray's Pond: halls, homes and travel
Cray's Pond is about 6 miles north-west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. We serve wakes at drives, car parks, yards and venues around Cray's Pond and the surrounding area. Cray's Pond is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover. You can also see our page for Reading, about 7 miles away.
Relatives driving in can use the B4526 to reach Cray's Pond. For anyone coming to the funeral by train, Goring & Streatley station is about 2.1 miles away. Cray's Pond is within about 7 miles of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
We take the van to wakes all over RG8. From Crays Pond Close, Garton End and Goring Road or a nearby road, we will bring the van to you. Cray's Pond sits on or near the B4526, so getting the van to your wake is simple. We also bring the van to wakes in Woodcote (1 mile north-east), Whitchurch Hill (1 mile south), Hook End (2 miles east), Checkendon (3 miles north-east) and Cane End (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Didcot (9 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Wantage (15 miles west), Henley-on-Thames (8 miles east), Benson (7 miles north) and Chinnor (14 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Battle Hospital (5.7 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Hartslock.
- Local schools include Woodcote Primary School (1.1 miles north-east) and Langtree School (1.1 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The White Lion pub (within half a mile east)
Prices and what affects them
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How easy the site is to reach
- Peak dates such as summer Saturdays
- How many people are eating
- Distance and any road charges
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so it helps to give us the postcode.
What we need to know
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Your date and serving time
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many people, including children
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Perfect for your wake in Cray's Pond
It is one less thing to organise at a difficult time.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. In Cray's Pond, people book us for occasions like:
- Family meals after the service
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
For a service at a church like Church of St Leonard, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Comparing caterers
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- Payment terms and deposit
- Allergen information for each item
- When final numbers are due
Towns and villages near Cray's Pond
More for events in Cray's Pond
Planners, venues and businesses
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Looking after everyone
Most events have a few guests with dietary needs. To plan for them:
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Mention allergies you know about
- Check the hall or venue allows a catering van
Afterwards, we leave quietly.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
Food your guests will love
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans.
- 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