West Sussex · England
Funeral and wake catering in Ditchling, West Sussex
Funeral and wake catering in Ditchling: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, then handed over hot from the hatch.
- A tribute meal
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Small family memorials
Funeral and wake catering in Ditchling
Step by step
We get there well before service, set up and bring the oil up to temperature. Your guests can wander over to the hatch as soon as we open. In autumn and winter, it is dark early in Ditchling; ensure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- First, tell us about your wake.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the parking spot.
- On the day, we park up and fry fresh for family and friends.
- We serve from the hatch, then leave the pitch tidy.
How to prepare
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
Get a quote
We only need a few details to quote: date, address, numbers and serving time. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Ditchling
We serve wakes at homes, halls, clubs and venues. For life celebrations and family meals after the service, we’ll put together a menu of haddock and chips, gravy and mushy peas and more.
In rural Ditchling, home or the hall is usual. Food is served straight from the hatch, so every portion is hot, and service is quick once we’re up and running.
- Area
- Ditchling (BN6)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Ditchling questions
Which station is closest to Ditchling?
Hassocks station, about 1.4 miles west of the centre.
We are gathering after a service at Ditchling Unitarian Chapel: can you come?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Food is typically served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you will gather.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes. We fry to order in the van at your venue, and serve straight from the hatch.
How quickly can you come?
Get in touch as soon as you can. We’ll let you know quickly.
Do you cover Ditchling?
Yes, we do. Ditchling is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
How many people should we cater for?
It’s hard to know, so a rough number is fine. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
When do you arrive?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We agree arrival, serving and finishing times with you before the day.
Why choose a fish and chip van in Ditchling?
Compared with a buffet, a van gives everyone a hot meal, which helps when numbers are hard to predict. Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, plus travel and access. Every booking gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- No surprises in your quote
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
Take a look at our pricing or our guide to van hire costs.
Perfect for your wake in Ditchling
It is one less thing to organise at a difficult time.
A fish and chip van suits almost any gathering. People in Ditchling book the van for occasions like:
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Remembrance gatherings
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
If relatives are coming by rail, the nearest station is Hassocks station, about 1.4 miles west.
Comparing caterers
- How allergens are handled
- Whether VAT is included
- How late numbers can change
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
About the food
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Also near Ditchling
More for events in Ditchling
What a fish and chip van costs
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How far we travel
- How long we serve
- The day of the week
- Numbers
Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. We’ll tell you up front.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- The date and time of the event
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- A picture of where the van would go
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your wake, and we’ll check the date and send a price.
For event organisers in Ditchling
Parks, greens and streets usually need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Looking after everyone
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Ensure older relatives can sit
- Allow for the service running over
- Mention allergies you know about
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
We arrive in good time and park discreetly.
A quiet room away from the crowd is a kindness.
Ditchling: halls, homes and travel
Ditchling is about 3 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. From the centre of Ditchling to the outskirts, we offer the same service: fish and chips fried to order, served hot and quoted clearly. We take the van to all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 6 miles away.
If the funeral is at a church such as Ditchling Unitarian Chapel, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short. The South Downs National Park is within about a mile of Ditchling; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
Anywhere in BN6, we can fry fresh for your guests. Local streets include High Street, The Twitten and Charlton Gardens; a wake on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. We also bring the van to wakes in Keymer (1 mile west), Westmeston (1 mile south), Hassocks (1 mile west), Clayton (2 miles south-west) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north), East Grinstead (15 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft (within half a mile west) and The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Ditchling Beacon and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Downlands Community School (1.1 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Bull Hotel (less than half a mile west)
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
- 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