West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Handcross
Fried to order and served hot: fish and chips for the wake in Handcross and across West Sussex.
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Village hall wakes
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Book the van in Handcross
A closer look at the menu
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it’s lovely with a pie.
Pie and chips
A pie and chips is proper comfort food, and it is a favourite in colder months.
How our funeral and wake catering works in Handcross
Fish and chips is informal, which suits a gathering where people mingle. For gatherings at home after a funeral and remembrance gatherings, we can cook haddock and chips, sausage and chips and pie and chips.
In rural Handcross, home or the hall is usual. We serve from the hatch, so every portion is hot, and the queue keeps moving.
- Location
- Handcross (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- On the side
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Handcross?
It is warm, simple food that almost everyone enjoys.
Whatever brings people together, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We are often booked for:
- Wakes at home
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
- A tribute meal
- Remembrance gatherings
For a service at a church like All Saints, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
What your quote should include
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
- When payment is due
- A clear list of what’s included
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For bigger numbers, a van makes life easier, and nobody has to miss the wake.
Planning the van’s spot
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but a few things matter:
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
Why choose a fish and chip van in Handcross?
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works where they don’t, or at home. A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. We’ll send you a quote.
Why Handcross hosts choose us
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- Classic food your guests already know
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
Read our prices page or the cost guide.
Also near Handcross
What else we do in Handcross
How it works
From set-up to the last portion, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your wake. In autumn and winter, it’s dark early in Handcross; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- First, the plan: what, where and what time.
- We come back with availability and a clear price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks, 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
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We’ll send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Planning help
After a funeral in Handcross
Handcross is about 4 miles south of Crawley, in West Sussex. For wakes in Handcross, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. We cover all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 16 miles away.
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the nearest station is Balcombe station, about 2.8 miles east.
Anywhere in RH17, we can bring the van to you. Local streets include High Street, London Road and Windmill Platt; a wake on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. If your venue is just outside Handcross, we also cover Slaugham (1 mile south), Plummers Plain (2 miles south-west), Colgate (3 miles north-west), Broadfield (3 miles north) and Lower Beeding (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (4 miles north), Horsham (5 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-east), East Grinstead (10 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Hospital (4.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake and Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
- Nearby schools include Handcross Park School (0.5 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Royal Oak Public House (within half a mile south-west)
Common questions in Handcross
What’s the nearest station to Handcross?
Balcombe station, about 2.8 miles east of the centre.
Is Handcross too small for a chip van?
No, we come to small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
When do you arrive?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We confirm all the timings beforehand.
Where do you take the van?
We take the van across London and the South East, West Sussex included. Find your area.
Can you serve children?
Children are very welcome. Let us know numbers, and we’ll plan for them.
What if the service runs late?
Of course. We start when you’re ready.
What food do you serve?
The classics: cod, haddock, chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Our menu has the details.
Do you need power or water?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we’ll confirm the rest.
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
What a fish and chip van costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The day of the week
- How easy the site is to reach
- The length of service
- Distance and any road charges
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- A photo of the parking spot
Still finalising the details? No problem: tell us the basics about your wake, and we will firm it up nearer the time. Start when you are ready: fill in 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