Surrey · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Godalming events
Fried to order and served hot: fish and chips for the wake in Godalming and across Surrey.
- Remembrance gatherings
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Pub wakes
Fresh fish and chips in Godalming
About our funeral and wake catering in Godalming
Your funeral director or a family friend can deal with us directly, so you have one less thing to do. For life celebrations and family meals after the service, we can cook pie and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
Around Godalming, wakes are frequently at the village hall, a pub or home. Let us know where the van can go. Food is served straight from the hatch, so it is hot and generous, and the queue keeps moving.
The menu, dish by dish
Mushy peas
No fish and chips is complete without mushy peas for many people.
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. It’s the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is usually the easier option.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
What happens on the day
Setting up takes a little while, because the oil has to come up to temperature, so we always arrive well ahead of your serving time. In autumn and winter, it’s dark early in Godalming; make sure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A photo of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
How to get a price
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: tell us the basics about your wake, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Who books funeral and wake catering in Godalming?
Families choose fish and chips because it’s comforting and familiar.
Whatever brings people together, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We are often booked for:
- A tribute meal
- Celebrations of life
- Wakes at venues
- Gatherings after the committal
For a service at a church like St Edmund Church, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Comparing caterers
- What the price includes, item by item
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- Whether travel is included
- The deposit and payment dates
Arranging a wake in Godalming
Godalming is about 5 miles south of Guildford, in Surrey. Bookings in Godalming come in all shapes and sizes, but the plan is always the same: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We cover all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages.
If relatives are coming by rail, Godalming station is in Godalming itself. With the A3100 and B2130 nearby, it is easy for family travelling by car to reach Godalming. Godalming is within about 7 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
For wakes in GU7 and GU8, we just need to know where the van can park and a serving time. That could mean a wake at a home on High Street, Station Road and Market Mews or the roads around them, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. Being close to the A3100 and B2130, Godalming is easy for us to reach for your wake. Other places close to Godalming we cover include Aaron's Hill (1 mile west), Busbridge (1 mile south-east), Farncombe (1 mile north), Tuesley (1 mile south) and Upper Eashing (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Guildford (5 miles north), Woking (9 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Farnham (8 miles west), Dorking (13 miles east) and Frimley (10 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Guildford Castle (3.9 miles north-east) and Godalming Museum (within half a mile north). Within reach you will find Frith Hill and Farncombe Wood.
- Schools near Godalming include St Hilary's School (within half a mile south-west) and Godalming College (0.5 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Richmond Arms Public House (less than half a mile west)
Godalming questions
How far is Godalming from London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Which station is closest to Godalming?
Godalming has its own station: Godalming station.
What does it cost to hire the van?
We quote for each booking, so the price fits what you need. Tell us your date and rough numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
Can you cater for allergies?
We provide allergen information for everything we serve. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Send us any allergies in writing.
Do you serve wakes at home?
Yes, with a suitable spot for the van.
Can our funeral director book for us?
Of course. We’re happy to deal with the funeral director or a family friend.
What if the service runs late?
We allow for it. We will agree a serving time and stay flexible.
How quickly can you serve everyone?
It depends on numbers, the menu and how people arrive. Give us your numbers and service window, and we will plan to keep the queue moving.
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Have chairs for those who need them
- Name a contact for the day who is not close family
- Keep the serving time flexible
- Let us know of any allergies
Allow time for travel from the service, crematorium or burial ground when choosing a serving time.
A tea table run by a friend is a comfort.
Working with your venue
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Sending people up in groups helps.
Parks, greens and streets usually need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Where the van can park in Godalming
We’ll agree the van’s spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A spot near your guests
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
Nearby places to Godalming
Other occasions in Godalming
What affects the price in Godalming
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Whether a minimum applies
- Your choice of menu
- The date and time of year
- Travel, tolls and road charges
Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The venue or postcode
- Where you’d like the van to go
- Rough numbers for adults and children
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your wake in Godalming, and we will come back with availability and a quote.
- 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