Surrey · England
Funeral and wake catering in Downside, Surrey
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, fish and chips for the wake turns food into part of your wake in Downside.
- A tribute meal
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
Funeral and wake catering for Downside events
Funeral and wake catering in Downside, fried fresh
We serve wakes at homes, halls, clubs and venues. Popular choices include pie and chips, sausage and chips and cod and chips, and typical bookings are for wakes at home and gatherings after the committal.
In a small place like Downside, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Everything we need comes with the van, and we pack up and leave the spot as we found it.
Space, access and the venue
The right spot keeps everyone safe and the service smooth. We need:
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
- A lit spot if service runs after dark
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Downside
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
How it works
The van turns up at the agreed time, pulls onto the spot you’ve chosen. Once the oil is hot, the first portions go out at the time you asked for. In winter, it is dark in Downside by about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:20pm.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Before we arrive
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
How to get a price
Each quote is put together for your wake. Start with your date, and we will check availability straight away.
Planning help
Food your guests will love
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it is lovely with a pie.
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it goes out hot and crisp.
After a funeral in Downside
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. For a wake in Downside, we can park on a drive, a car park, a yard or firm, dry grass. We cover all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. Our bookings stretch from Downside to Guildford (8 miles away).
For a service at a church like St Michael's Chapel, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests. Downside is within about 6 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
This part of Surrey takes in KT11, so your wake can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
- Schools near Downside include Parkside School (1.2 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Public House (0.7 miles north)
Looking after everyone
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Try these:
- Check the hall has an urn
- Check the hall or venue allows a catering van
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
- Tell us about any close family with allergies
We arrive in good time and park discreetly before guests return from the service.
Napkins and bins near the van keep things tidy.
Events we cater in Downside
Families choose fish and chips because it is comforting and familiar.
Whatever the occasion in Downside, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We’re frequently booked for:
- Anniversary memorials
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, Cobham & Stoke Dabernon station is about 1 mile away.
What to look for in a quote
- Any minimum charge
- What happens if plans change
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Working with your venue
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan service to match. 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.
Common questions in Downside
Is Downside too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Can you serve after a service at St Michael's Chapel?
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 usually elsewhere. Send us the address.
Do you take everything away?
We take the van and everything with it, and leave the spot tidy. Bins for guests are worth planning.
How many people should we cater for?
It’s hard to know, so a rough number is fine. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Children normally love sausage and chips. Include children in your numbers.
Do you fry it on site?
It is. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Where do you take the van?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Downside.
What do you bring?
Everything is cooked in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
Why choose a fish and chip van in Downside?
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works where they do not, or at home. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Why Downside hosts choose us
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Events in Downside and across Surrey
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
- A clear quote before booking
Read how we price and our guide to van hire costs.
Prices and what affects them
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Whether a minimum applies
- The date and time of year
- The menu and how many choices
- How far we travel
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, along with distance and access to the site. Every booking gets its own quote.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- The venue or postcode
Still finalising the details? That is fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we’ll quote on that. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Nearby places to Downside
Also in Downside
- 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