Hampshire · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Pilley
A menu everybody knows: fish and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. Funeral and wake catering in Pilley.
- A wake at the family home
- Remembrance gatherings
- Life celebrations
Funeral and wake catering in Pilley
Funeral and wake catering in Pilley, fried fresh
We understand that timings on the day can move, and we will work around the service and the family. We are often asked to cater anniversary memorials and gatherings at home after a funeral, with pie and chips, mushy peas and cod and chips.
For a wake near Pilley, a farmhouse or village hall frequently works well. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer before you book.
About the food
Haddock and chips
Some people swear by haddock: a firmer flake and a sweeter taste. Ask us about offering haddock alongside or instead of cod.
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it is what most people in the south ask for. It is battered and fried to order, so it is crisp when it reaches you.
The process
We need a level, firm place to park the van, near your guests, which we agree with you beforehand. In winter, it’s dark in Pilley by about 4:00pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- 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.
- We serve hot from the hatch and pack up when we’re done.
How to prepare
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
- Let us know the serving time
How to get a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Allergies and dietary needs
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. We suggest:
- Ask the venue about the van
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Plan seating for older guests
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Tea and coffee from the hall’s urn, or a friend’s tea table, goes well alongside.
After a funeral in Pilley
Pilley is about 2 miles north of Lymington, in Hampshire. Bookings in Pilley come in all shapes and sizes, but it always starts the same way: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. Pilley is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we bring the van. Our bookings stretch from Pilley to Southampton (about 11 miles away).
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the nearest station is Lymington Town station, about 1.5 miles south. The New Forest National Park is within about 3 miles of Pilley, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access. The coast is within about 3 miles of Pilley.
Wherever your wake is in SO41, we can bring the van to you. Streets in the area include Pilley Street, Burnt House Lane and May Lane, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. For wakes just outside Pilley, we cover Pilley Bailey (1 mile north-east), Warborne (1 mile south-west), Bull Hill (1 mile east), Portmore (1 mile south-east) and Boldre (1 mile west). We also serve nearby towns such as Eastleigh (15 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Totton (9 miles north), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-east), Hedge End (14 miles north-east) and Romsey (15 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (1.7 miles south) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (1.1 miles south-west). The countryside around Pilley includes Boldre Foreshore.
- Local schools include Southlands School (0.6 miles south-west) and Priestlands School (2.3 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion Inn (0.7 miles west)
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Any minimum charge
- The length of service
- Numbers
- The day of the week
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the van and set-up are much the same for any size. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Expected numbers
- A picture of the parking spot
- The spot you have in mind for the van
Still finalising the details? That is fine: give us a rough idea and the date, and we’ll quote on that. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Questions from Pilley
Is Pilley 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.
Can you serve after a service at Saint Nicholas Chapel?
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 typically elsewhere. Send us the address.
Do we need to provide equipment?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You provide a suitable spot and permission to park.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
No, not as standard: the batter contains wheat. Let us know and we’ll tell you what we can do before you book.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How quickly can you come?
We understand the timescales, so send us the date and we will answer straight away.
Can our funeral director book for us?
Of course. We are happy to deal with the funeral director or a family friend.
What food do you serve?
Proper fish and chips, plus sausage or pie and chips. Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy go on the side.
A chip van compared with other options
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works where they do not, or at home. The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, plus travel and access. We quote for each booking individually.
What you get with us
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- Quick service from the hatch
Planners, venues and businesses
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.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Cannot we just order from the chip shop?
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We are happy to send a quote so you can compare.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Nearby places to Pilley
Other occasions in Pilley
Planning the van’s spot
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- A route in without tight gates or low branches
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Pilley
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- 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