West Berkshire · England
Funeral and wake catering in Downend, West Berkshire
We bring fish and chips for the wake to Downend and nearby, cooking to order on site.
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Memorial gatherings
Funeral and wake catering in Downend
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Downend
The wake can be at home, at a village hall or club, or at a venue with space outside, wherever the van can park. Whether it’s gatherings after scattering ashes and memorial events and anniversaries, we’ll put together a menu of haddock and chips, gravy and cod and chips and more.
Near Downend, wakes are frequently at home or in the hall. Let us know about access. You will know what’s included before you book: the date, the service time and the menu, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Downend (RG20)
- County
- West Berkshire
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
How it works
There is very little for you to do on the day: point us to the spot and get on with your wake. The frying and serving are down to us. Summer evenings in Downend stay light until about 9:25pm, but in December it’s dark by about 4:00pm.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- We come back with availability and a clear price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Get permission for the van from the venue
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Planning the van’s spot
We’ll be honest if a spot won’t work, and help find another. The main points are:
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- A spot near your guests
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
From the hatch
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is usually simpler.
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and you get to enjoy the day.
Also near Downend
More for events in Downend
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Downend
Can you serve after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is typically served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you’ll gather.
Do you come to venues in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you do anything other than fish?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Let us know about any other dietary needs and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including West Berkshire. See all areas.
Is there something for children?
Children are very welcome. Tell us how many children, and we’ll include them in the plan.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
It depends on the ground. Tell us about it when you enquire, and we will advise.
Can the van park on the street?
Only where it is legal to park, or with a council parking suspension or road closure. Ask your council early.
Working with your venue
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
Events we cater in Downend
It needs no kitchen at the hall or home.
Here are some of the occasions we serve around Downend:
- Life celebrations
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
- Anniversary memorials
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
If the funeral is at a church such as Church of St Mary, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
What to look for in a quote
- What they can offer for dietary needs
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
- The deposit and payment dates
Is a fish and chip van right for your wake?
Some venues offer wake menus. A van works where they don’t, or at home. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why Downend hosts choose us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
Read how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Looking after everyone
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. We suggest:
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Plan for a few extra people
- Keep the serving time flexible
- Choose a friend to be our contact
We arrive in good time and park discreetly before guests return from the service.
Napkins and bins near the van keep things tidy.
Downend: halls, homes and travel
Downend is about 5 miles north of Newbury, in West Berkshire. From the centre of Downend to the outskirts, the service works the same way: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. Downend is one of 155 towns and villages in West Berkshire where we bring the van. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 15 miles away.
Downend is within about 5 miles of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
For wakes in RG20, we just need to know where the van can park. Streets in the area include Downend Lane, Bardown and Northfields, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. If your venue is just outside Downend, we also cover Chieveley (1 mile south), North Heath (1 mile south-west), World's End (1 mile north-east), Peasemore (2 miles north-west) and Beedon (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Newbury (5 miles south), Thatcham (5 miles south-east), Burghfield Common (12 miles south-east), Speenhamland (5 miles south), Hungerford (10 miles south-west) and Calcot (12 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Hampstead Norris Castle (3.3 miles east) and West Berkshire Community Hospital (4.7 miles south). Within reach you’ll find Snelsmore Common.
- Local pubs include The Wheatsheaf pub (0.7 miles south)
What a fish and chip van costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- The length of service
- Whether a minimum applies
- Cod, haddock or both
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Your date and serving time
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Roughly how many people, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Still finalising the details? No problem: give us a rough idea and the date, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
- 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