West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Merston events
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Merston and the surrounding area.
- Wakes at home
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Planning an event in Merston?
What happens on the day
We get there well before service, park the van and get the fryers going. Your guests can wander over to the hatch once service starts. In summer, a wake in Merston has light until about 9:20pm, but in December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so plan lighting near the door.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- Show us where the van would go, and we will confirm it works.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
How to prepare
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Funeral and wake catering in Merston, cooked to order
A wake needs warm, simple food. For many families, fish and chips is exactly that. Whether it’s gatherings at a village hall or club and memorial events and anniversaries, we can cook sausage and chips, gravy and mushy peas.
In rural Merston, home or the hall is usual. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
- Where
- Merston (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- Sides
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Sandwiches are traditional at wakes. A hot meal can be more comforting, especially in winter. A chip van frequently compares well with a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. Ask us for a quote.
Why Merston hosts choose us
- Events in Merston and across West Sussex
- No surprises in your quote
- No kitchen needed
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
Read our pricing or our guide to van hire costs.
Allergies and dietary needs
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. We suggest:
- Tell us about any close family with allergies
- Ask the venue about the van
- Allow for the service running over
- Check the hall has an urn
We serve when people are ready, not to a rigid schedule.
A table of photos helps people talk.
What comes out of the fryer
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion and it is on the menu.
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there’s pie and chips, perfect with gravy.
For planners, venues and organisers
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. Ask the council or landowner early.
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.
Wake catering near Merston
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. From the centre of Merston to the outskirts, the service works the same way: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. Merston is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. Our bookings stretch from Merston to Brighton (26 miles away).
For a service at a church like Church of St Giles, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests. The coast is within about 4 miles of Merston.
For wakes in PO20, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many guests. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Further out, we also take the van to Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
- Nearby schools include North Mundham Primary School (1.2 miles west) and Chichester High School For Girls (2.1 miles west)
What a fish and chip van costs
The same numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The date and time of year
- Distance and any road charges
- How easy the site is to reach
- Whether a minimum applies
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the parking spot
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The venue or postcode
- Rough numbers for adults and children
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We’ll send a clear quote that says what’s included.
Who books funeral and wake catering in Merston?
It works for everyone, from children to older relatives.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Merston and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Anniversary memorials
- Pub wakes
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- A wake at the family home
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, Chichester station, about 2.3 miles west, is the nearest station.
What to look for in a quote
- The cancellation terms
- The deposit and payment dates
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- Whether VAT is included
Merston questions
We are gathering after a service at Church of St Giles: 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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where you’ll gather.
Can you serve near the sea around Merston?
Yes. Wind doesn’t affect the fryers, but plan a sheltered spot for the queue.
Do you bring everything you need?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Is short notice a problem?
We understand the timescales, so ask and we’ll reply quickly.
What if we do not know numbers?
Give us your best estimate, and we will firm it up nearer the day.
Can someone else arrange it?
Of course. We can work with whoever is helping you.
Does the batter contain gluten?
No, not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do.
What happens if it rains?
The weather does not stop the van, because the cooking happens inside. Soft ground after heavy rain is the bigger issue, so have a hard-surface spot in mind.
Towns and villages near Merston
What else we do in Merston
Before you choose a spot
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Merston
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- 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