West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Hickstead events
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Hickstead and across West Sussex.
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
- Gatherings after the committal
- Wakes at venues
A chip van near Hickstead
About our funeral and wake catering in Hickstead
Some families choose it because it was a loved one’s favourite. We are frequently asked to cater gatherings after the committal and celebrations of life, with sausage and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
In a small place like Hickstead, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet.
- Area
- Hickstead (RH17, BN6)
- County
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Hickstead
Can the van go to venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for vehicles; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Hickstead close to London?
About 37 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What if we only have street parking?
It depends on the road. Off-road parking is usually simpler; for the street, check the council’s rules.
Is everything cooked fresh?
It is. The fryers are in the van, so it is fried on the spot, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Is short notice a problem?
Ask as soon as you have the date. We will tell you right away whether we are available.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you need power or water?
Let us know about power and water at the site when you enquire, and we’ll say what we need.
Do you do anything other than fish?
There is: sausage and chips or pie and chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
Should I sort the food myself?
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Consider your numbers and how fresh you want it. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
A chip van compared with other options
For warm food after a funeral, fish and chips from a van works well. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Hickstead hosts choose us
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Events in Hickstead and across West Sussex
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
Read our pricing or the cost guide.
Arranging a wake in Hickstead
Hickstead is about 3 miles west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. We take fish and chips for the wake to homes, halls, workplaces and venues in Hickstead and nearby villages. Hickstead is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we bring the van. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 10 miles away.
Relatives arriving by train should know that Burgess Hill station, about 3.1 miles east, is the nearest station. Hickstead is within about 5 miles of the South Downs National Park, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH17 and BN6, so your wake can be anywhere in it. Other places close to Hickstead we cover include Goddards Green (1 mile east), Sayers Common (1 mile south), Abbotsford (2 miles east), Ansty (2 miles north-east) and Hurstpierpoint (2 miles south). Further out, we also take the van to Crawley (10 miles north), Horsham (9 miles north-west), Worthing (13 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (3 miles east) and East Grinstead (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (1.3 miles east) and Clayton Castle (4.6 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Wolstonbury Hill and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Hickstead include St Paul's Catholic College (1.8 miles east)
What comes out of the fryer
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion and it’s on the menu.
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it’s lovely with a pie.
Occasions we serve in Hickstead
There is little waste, because food is cooked to order.
Big or small, the van works the same way. Typical bookings include:
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after the committal
- Village hall wakes
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
After a service at The Parish Church of St Peter, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
What your quote should include
- What the price includes, item by item
- How many hours the van serves
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if the event is cancelled or moved
Planning the van’s spot
A good parking spot makes the whole thing easier. We need:
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- Flat, firm ground for the van
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
From the hatch
- Mushy peas
- Haddock and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
Places near Hickstead
What else we do in Hickstead
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. Sending people up in groups helps.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
How we price fish and chips for the wake
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- The number of meals
- The minimum booking
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- Service time
Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Where the event is
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- Where the van would park
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Every quote is worked out for your event. Give us your date first, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
The process
We need time before service to bring the fryers up to heat, so we always arrive well ahead of your serving time. Late-December sunset in Hickstead is 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.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we are done.
How to prepare
- Let us know the serving time
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
How to get a price
Send us the date, the address or RH17 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat, and we’ll reply with a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
- 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