Isle of Wight · England
Funeral and wake catering in Merstone, Isle of Wight
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Funeral and wake catering in Merstone.
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Gatherings at home after a funeral
A chip van near Merstone
About our funeral and wake catering in Merstone
Sometimes fish and chips was the favourite meal of the person being remembered. Typical bookings include remembering a loved one’s favourite food and memorial events and anniversaries, with haddock and chips, mushy peas and gravy.
For a wake near Merstone, a farmhouse or village hall often works well, with the van in the yard or car park. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer.
- Area
- Merstone (PO30)
- Area hub
- Isle of Wight
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
Merstone: halls, homes and travel
Merstone is about 3 miles south-east of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. For wakes in Merstone, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a parking spot and fresh frying on the day. Merstone is one of 125 places in the Isle of Wight we cover. We serve events right across the region, from Merstone to Southampton (19 miles away).
The coast is within about 5 miles of Merstone.
For wakes in PO30, we just need to know where the van can park and a serving time. Streets in the area include Merstone Lane, Chapel Lane and Newlands, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. If your venue is just outside Merstone, we also cover Arreton (1 mile north-east), Rookley (1 mile south-west), Hale Common (1 mile south-east), Rookley Green (1 mile south-west) and Blackwater (2 miles north-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Newport (3 miles north-west), Ryde (6 miles north-east), Cowes (7 miles north), Sandown (4 miles east), Shanklin (4 miles south-east) and Ventnor (5 miles south-east). For a wake at a remote spot, tell us early so we can plan the journey.
Nearby you’ll also find Whitecroft Hospital (2.2 miles west) and Carisbrooke Castle (3.1 miles north-west). Open spaces near Merstone include Stenbury Down and Alverstone Mead.
The menu, dish by dish
Cod and chips
Cod and chips is the meal most people picture when they think of a chip shop. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it’s hot, crisp and generous.
Gravy
In the north and the Midlands, gravy is the side of choice, and it is lovely with a pie.
Organising for someone else?
Parks, greens and streets generally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Space, access and the venue
Every site is different, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
- A short walk from the party
Merstone is a more remote spot, so tell us early and we will plan the journey.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we serve
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Here’s how:
- Allow a little extra
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Build in time for delays
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
Towns and villages near Merstone
Other occasions in Merstone
Perfect for your wake in Merstone
It is one less thing to organise at a difficult time.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
- Life celebrations
- A wake at the family home
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
Relatives arriving by train should know that the nearest station is Shanklin station, about 3.8 miles south-east.
Comparing caterers
- Whether VAT is included
- The service time, and the cost of running over
- Whether travel is included
- A clear list of what’s included
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Merstone
Which station is closest to Merstone?
The closest is Shanklin station, roughly 3.8 miles away.
Is Merstone too small for a chip van?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Who clears up?
The pitch is left as we found it. It helps to have bins near the hatch.
Do you have allergen information?
Tell us about allergies when you book, and we’ll give you the allergen information.
What areas do you cover?
We take the van across London and the South East, the Isle of Wight included. Find your area.
What does it cost to hire the van?
It depends on numbers, the menu, how long we serve and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Everything is cooked in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a hard surface or firm, dry grass, with a clear way in. If in doubt, send a photo.
What happens on the day
There’s very little for you to do on the day: point us to the spot and get on with your wake. We handle the cooking and serving. Sunset in Merstone is about 7:10pm in late September and about 4:00pm in December; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- You, or your funeral director, tell us the date, the place and rough numbers.
- We check where the van can park and send a clear price.
- We agree a time to arrive and when food should be ready, allowing for the service running over.
- We park discreetly and fry fresh as people arrive.
- When everyone has eaten, we clear up and go.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Ensure the van can get in
How to get a price
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, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
DIY versus a fish and chip van
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is typically simpler.
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works at home or at a hall. Larger groups typically cost less per head, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book with us
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- Quick service from the hatch
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Classic food your guests already know
See our pricing and the cost guide.
- 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