Greater London · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Ratcliff events
From the smell of the fryers to the last chip in the paper, fish and chips for the wake makes the food a highlight of your wake in Ratcliff.
- Memorial gatherings
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Gatherings at a village hall or club
A chip van near Ratcliff
Funeral and wake catering in Ratcliff, fried fresh
The wake can be at home, at a village hall or club, or at a venue with space outside. We serve gravy, cod and chips and sausage and chips, and we’re regularly asked to cater scattering of ashes gatherings and a tribute meal.
In Ratcliff, a wake might be at home, a hall or a local pub. We need somewhere the van can park legally and safely, which we can help you think through. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
- Location
- Ratcliff (E1, E14, SE16)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- On the menu
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- On the side
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
The process
We get there well before service, set up and bring the oil up to temperature. Guests generally gather round the hatch as soon as we open. Sunset in Ratcliff is about 7:05pm in late September and about 3:55pm in December; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Plan a bit of cover near the hatch if rain is likely
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the van would park, roughly how many people and when you’d like to eat. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
A chip van compared with other options
Compared with a buffet, a van gives everyone a hot meal, and there’s less waste when numbers are uncertain. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu and timing to match. A short menu is frequently the best value.
What you get with us
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- All the chip-shop extras
- Classic food your guests already know
Take a look at our pricing or the cost guide.
Questions from Ratcliff
Can you serve after a service at Royal Foundation of St Katharine?
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.
Could you trade in Stepney Green Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them first.
Do we need to provide equipment?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You provide a suitable spot and permission to park.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Tell us whether there’s power or water nearby and we’ll confirm the rest.
Is there something for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers, and we’ll plan for them.
Can our funeral director book for us?
Yes, many families prefer that.
What can guests choose from?
The classics: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
Can you come to the house?
Yes, with a suitable spot for the van.
About the food
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Curry sauce
The chip shop’s own curry sauce is mild and a little sweet, perfect with chips or a sausage.
Nearby places to Ratcliff
What else we do in Ratcliff
Perfect for your wake in Ratcliff
It’s one less thing to organise at a difficult time.
The van suits big events and small ones. Common bookings include:
- Pub wakes
- Memorial gatherings
- Anniversary memorials
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Relatives driving in can use the A101 and A126 to reach Ratcliff.
What your quote should include
- The van’s size and access needs
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
Looking after everyone
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. Our advice:
- Plan for a few extra people
- Name a contact for the day who isn’t close family
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
We arrive in good time and park discreetly before guests return from the service.
Somewhere quiet to sit helps some guests.
Ratcliff: halls, homes and travel
Ratcliff is about 1 mile east of Whitechapel, in Greater London. People in Ratcliff 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. Ratcliff is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we bring the van.
If relatives are coming by rail, Ratcliff has its own station, Limehouse station. If the funeral is at a church such as Royal Foundation of St Katharine, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Wherever your wake is in E1, E14 and SE16, we can bring the van to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean a wake at a home on Wharf Lane, Glamis Road and Salter Road or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. Main roads around Ratcliff include the A101 and A126, so getting the van to your wake is simple. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Shadwell (1 mile south), East End of London (1 mile north-west), Limehouse (1 mile north-east), Stepney (1 mile north) and Wapping (1 mile west). Further out, we also take the van to City of Westminster (5 miles west), Marylebone (4 miles west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (3 miles west), Walthamstow (5 miles north) and Hampstead (6 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include The Pumphouse Educational Museum (less than half a mile south-east) and Surrey Quays Shopping Centre (1.1 miles south). The countryside around Ratcliff includes Lavender Pond and Tower Hill.
- Nearby schools include Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School (under half a mile north-west) and Stepney Jewish School (0.6 miles north)
- Nearby, you’ll find The British Prince Public House (within half a mile north)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Holy Trinity (1 mile north) and Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives (1.6 miles west)
Space, access and the venue
We will be honest if a spot won’t work. The main points are:
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
- A short walk from the party
Ratcliff is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about driveways, yards, car parks or a council parking suspension.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Ratcliff
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
How we price fish and chips for the wake
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The day of the week
- How long we serve
- The number of meals
- How easy the site is to reach
The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, along with distance and access to the site. Every booking gets its own quote.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the parking spot
- Where the van would park
Send us the date, the address or E1 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time, and you’ll get a clear price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
DIY versus a fish and chip van
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.
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is generally the easier option.
- 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