West Sussex · England
Funeral and wake catering in Highbrook, West Sussex
Funeral and wake catering in Highbrook: cod, haddock and chips fried to order, then handed over hot from the hatch at the time you choose.
- Village hall wakes
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Celebrations of life
Planning an event in Highbrook?
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Highbrook
Food is fried to order, so it’s hot when people arrive, after a long, cold day. Popular choices include sausage and chips, cod and chips and pie and chips, and typical bookings are for a tribute meal and anniversary memorials.
For a wake near Highbrook, a farmhouse or village hall frequently works well. Every portion is cooked to order on the day, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet, and handed over as soon as it is ready.
- Where
- Highbrook (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Extras
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Wakes in Highbrook: venues and practical details
Highbrook is about 4 miles north-east of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. People in Highbrook book us for all sorts of reasons, but it always starts the same way: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. Highbrook is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. Our bookings stretch from Highbrook to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
For a service at a church like All Saints Church, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests. Highbrook is within about 5 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH17. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Ardingly (1 mile south-west), Little London (1 mile west), Sharpthorne (2 miles north), West Hoathly (2 miles north) and Horsted Keynes (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also take the van to Crawley (7 miles north-west), Horsham (11 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-west), East Grinstead (5 miles north) and Broadfield (7 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Princess Royal Hospital (4.6 miles south) and Parish Museum (2.8 miles south). Open spaces near Highbrook include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
- Pubs nearby include The Ardingly Inn (1 mile south-west)
A closer look at the menu
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. It is the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Whether a minimum applies
- Your choice of menu
- Service time
- Access and parking
A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Allergies and diets you know about
- The address or venue name
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We’ll send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Perfect for your wake in Highbrook
There is no kitchen work for anyone.
Whatever brings people together, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. We’re often booked for:
- Celebrations of life
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
For family travelling by train, the nearest station is Balcombe station, about 3.4 miles west.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- Whether travel is included
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
Space, access and the venue
Before the day, we will agree where the van parks. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Lighting nearby for evening events
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Highbrook
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
Towns and villages near Highbrook
More for events in Highbrook
How it works
Nothing gathers a crowd like the smell of fish and chips. Each piece of fish is battered and fried to order, with chips cooked in batches as the queue moves. In winter, it is dark in Highbrook by about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. In summer, there is daylight until about 9:20pm.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and roughly how many.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Preparing for the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Confirm numbers and dietary needs before the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers, timings and travel. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Organising for someone else?
For larger numbers, tell us how long you have for food, so we can plan how to keep the queue short. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Preparing food yourself adds to a hard day. A van takes that off your hands. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest how to make it work. A short menu is frequently the best value.
Why Highbrook hosts choose us
- No kitchen needed
- We cover Highbrook and the whole of West Sussex
- A quote that spells everything out
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
Read our pricing and the cost guide.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Ordering in from a local chip shop is an option. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
Highbrook questions
Is Highbrook too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
We’re gathering after a service at All Saints Church: can you come?
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 generally elsewhere. Send us the address.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before service to park and heat the fryers. We will agree arrival and serving times with you so food is ready when you want it.
Is there something for children?
Yes. Sausage and chips is a favourite with children. Tell us how many are coming.
What does it cost to hire the van?
The price depends on numbers, menu, service time and travel. Tell us about your wake and we’ll send a quote.
Do you take everything away?
We clear the van’s area after service. Tell us where bins can go for people’s paper and trays.
What can guests choose from?
Fish and chips, of course, with sausages and pies for anyone who does not want fish. The sides are mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy.
What do you bring?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
- 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