Surrey · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Merrow events
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 Merrow.
- Family meals after the service
- Anniversary memorials
- A tribute meal
Book the van in Merrow
About our funeral and wake catering in Merrow
We understand that timings on the day can move, and we’ll work around the service and the family. On the menu are cod and chips, mushy peas and pie and chips, and we are regularly asked to cater wakes at venues and small family memorials.
Around Merrow, wakes are frequently at the village hall, a pub or home. Tell us about parking for the van. Food is served straight from the hatch, so every portion is hot, and the queue keeps moving.
Arranging a wake in Merrow
Merrow is about 2 miles east of Guildford, in Surrey. People in Merrow book us for all sorts of reasons, but it always starts the same way: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We serve 395 places in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages.
If the funeral is at a church such as Church of St John the Evangelist, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Merrow, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
This part of Surrey takes in GU1 and GU4. From Park Lane, Grove Road and Wykeham Road or a nearby road, we will bring the van to you. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Burpham (1 mile north-west), Abbotswood (1 mile west), West Clandon (2 miles north-east), Guildford (2 miles west) and Chilworth (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Epsom (13 miles north-east), Farnham (12 miles west), Ewell (14 miles north-east) and Egham (13 miles north).
A little further out are Guildford Castle (2.1 miles south-west) and Surrey Infantry Museum (0.6 miles north-east). Within reach you’ll find St Martha's Hill and Colyer's Hanger and Silent Pool.
- Local schools include St Peter's Catholic School (within half a mile west) and St Peter's Catholic School (less than half a mile west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Horse And Groom Public House (less than half a mile south)
A chip van compared with other options
Making food yourself for a wake is a lot to take on. A van takes that off your hands. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book our van in Merrow
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- A quote that spells everything out
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Served hot, straight from the hatch
Events we cater in Merrow
It’s warm, simple food that almost everyone enjoys.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Merrow and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- A wake at the family home
- Memorial gatherings
- Gatherings after the committal
For family travelling by train, the closest railway station is Clandon station, roughly 1.6 miles north-east of the centre.
Before you book anyone
- When final numbers are due
- How much space the van takes up
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- How allergens are handled
Diets, allergies and planning
We take allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Check the hall or venue allows a catering van
- Tell us about any close family with allergies
- Choose a friend to be our contact
- Allow for the service running over
Ensure older relatives can sit to eat.
Tea and coffee from the hall’s urn, or a friend’s tea table, goes well alongside.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
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.
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the wake.
Also near Merrow
Also in Merrow
The menu, dish by dish
Haddock and chips
Haddock has a slightly sweeter flavour and a firmer flake. In the north and in Scotland, haddock is the classic.
Mushy peas
No fish and chips is complete without mushy peas for many people, and they’re on the menu.
For event organisers in Merrow
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Step by step
We work to your timings. If the day runs behind, we hold off cooking until you are ready, so the food is still fresh when it is served. In winter, it’s dark in Merrow by about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:20pm.
- You share your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Ensure the van can get in
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
How to get a price
Thinking about fish and chips for the wake for your wake in Merrow? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Common questions in Merrow
Can you serve after a service at Church of St John the Evangelist?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is generally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Can the van go to venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Do we need to provide anything?
Tell us what’s available at the site when you enquire, and we’ll say what we need.
Which areas do you serve?
We take the van across London and the South East, including Surrey. See all areas.
Can you park on the road outside?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Check with your council first.
What can guests choose from?
Fish and chips, of course, plus sausage or pie and chips. The sides are mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy.
How much space do you need?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, with room for a queue at the hatch. Tell us about gates, lanes and soft ground.
How long does set-up take?
It depends on numbers and the service time. We agree arrival, serving and finishing times with you before the day.
Prices and what affects them
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Whether a minimum applies
- The number of meals
- The menu and how many choices
- The length of service
Cost depends on numbers, menu and service time, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Allergies and diets you know about
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- The venue or postcode
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, use 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