Hampshire · England
Funeral and wake catering in Headley Down, Hampshire
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 Headley Down.
- Small family memorials
- Gatherings after the committal
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
Fresh fish and chips in Headley Down
Common questions in Headley Down
Can the van go to venues in the Surrey Hills 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.
How far is Headley Down from London?
Roughly 40 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater for allergies?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Tell us about allergies in advance.
Does the batter contain gluten?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac guests when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
Do we need to provide anything?
Let us know about power and water at the site in your enquiry, and we will confirm what we need.
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.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes. We cook inside the van, so it is fried on the spot, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook inside the van, so rain does not stop us. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
How our funeral and wake catering works in Headley Down
A wake needs warm, simple food. For many families, fish and chips is exactly that. We serve haddock and chips, gravy and mushy peas, and we are regularly asked to cater wakes at a pub or venue with outside space and family gatherings after a burial or cremation.
Around Headley Down, wakes are often at the village hall, a pub or home. Let us know where the van can go. The menu is short on purpose: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
More for events in Headley Down
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
A sit-down meal can feel formal. Fish and chips lets people mingle. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. We will tell you up front.
Why us?
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Hot food handed straight over
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
See our pricing and the cost guide.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
- Mention allergies you know about
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
- Funeral directors can help with numbers
A friend or the funeral director can be our contact.
Some families add a favourite dessert or cake.
Planning the van’s spot
Most drives, car parks, yards and firm lawns can take the van, but a few things matter:
- A short walk from the party
- A level hardstanding, drive or firm lawn
- Access wide and high enough for the van
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
From the hatch
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
A closer look at the menu
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. It is battered and fried to order, so it is crisp when it reaches you.
Sausage and chips
For anyone who doesn’t fancy fish, there is sausage and chips, and children love it.
Arranging a wake in Headley Down
Headley Down is about 6 miles south of Farnham, in Hampshire. Wherever your wake is in the GU35 area, we can bring the van to you. We take the van to 683 places across Hampshire. We serve events right across the region, from Headley Down to Guildford (13 miles away).
If relatives are coming by rail, Liphook station, about 3.4 miles south, is the nearest station. If the funeral is at a church such as Church of All Saints, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short. Headley Down is within about 4 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Wakes anywhere in GU35 start with a parking spot for the van. Local streets include Wilsons Road, Ludshott Grove and Fairview Road; a wake on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. You will find Headley Down on the B3002, which makes the journey straightforward. Close by, we cover wakes in Arford (1 mile west), Headley (1 mile west), Wishanger Common (2 miles north), Standford (2 miles south-west) and Lindford (2 miles west). We also serve nearby towns such as Farnborough (12 miles north), Fleet (11 miles north), Aldershot (9 miles north), Alton (8 miles west), Petersfield (10 miles south-west) and Yateley (15 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Chase Community Hospital (2.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Gibbet Hill and Deadwater Valley.
- Nearby schools include Mill Chase Academy (2.2 miles west)
Organising for someone else?
Many venues set rules for catering vans: 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.
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
How we price fish and chips for the wake
The same numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The length of service
- The day of the week
- Distance and any road charges
- The number of meals
Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Where the van would park
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Your date and serving time
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. A picture of the spot helps too. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
What happens on the day
Rain does not stop the fryers, because the cooking happens inside the van. It is worth thinking about cover for the queue, though. Sunset in Headley Down is about 7:05pm in late September and about 4:00pm in December; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- Show us where the van would go, and we’ll confirm it works.
- Closer to the day, we confirm the arrival time and serving time.
- The van rolls up, the hatch opens and the fryers get going for family and friends.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Before we arrive
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Plan where the queue will stand
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
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.
Read more
Who books funeral and wake catering in Headley Down?
It can be a fitting tribute.
Big or small, the van works the same way. Typical bookings include:
- A tribute meal
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Life celebrations
Relatives driving in can use the B3002 to reach Headley Down.
What to look for in a quote
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How late numbers can change
- What happens if plans change
- Whether there’s a minimum
- 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