Brighton and Hove · England
Funeral and wake catering in Saltdean, Brighton and Hove
Something for almost everyone: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Book fish and chips for the wake in Saltdean.
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Memorial gatherings
Book the van in Saltdean
Funeral and wake catering in Saltdean, cooked to order
We understand that timings on the day can move, and we will work around the service and the family. Typical bookings include village hall wakes and wakes at a pub or venue with outside space, with sausage and chips, mushy peas and haddock and chips.
Around Saltdean, wakes are often at the village hall, a pub or home. Let us know where the van can go. The menu is short on purpose: a few classics done properly keeps the food fresh and the queue moving.
- Area
- Saltdean (BN2)
- Region
- Brighton and Hove
- From the fryer
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Allergies and dietary needs
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Plan for a few extra people
- Build in time for delays
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
- Check the hall has an urn
We serve when people are ready.
A quiet room away from the crowd is a kindness.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
A sit-down meal can feel formal. Fish and chips lets people mingle. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Why book with us
- We cover Saltdean and the whole of Brighton and Hove
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- Fish and chips fried fresh on site
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
See our pricing and our guide to van hire costs.
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up where we have agreed, and cook and serve without fuss. Summer evenings in Saltdean stay light until about 9:15pm, while winter afternoons darken by about 3:55pm.
- You, or your funeral director, tell us the date, the place and rough numbers.
- We check the spot for the van and send a quote.
- We plan a flexible serving time around the service.
- We park discreetly and fry fresh as people arrive.
- Afterwards we pack up quietly and leave the spot tidy.
How to prepare
- Get permission for the van from the venue
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
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. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Saltdean questions
Can you serve after a service at St Nicholas?
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 you serve near the sea around Saltdean?
Yes, of course. The cooking is inside the van, so wind does not affect it, but the queue will want shelter.
What’s on the menu?
The classics: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes. Everything is fried fresh in the van, and serve straight from the hatch.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop the fryers: the cooking is inside the van. Guests will appreciate cover near the hatch.
Do you cover Saltdean?
Yes, we do. Saltdean is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Is grass a problem?
Typically, if it’s firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so have a hard-surface back-up.
What if we do not know numbers?
Give us your best estimate, and we’ll firm it up nearer the day.
Space, access and the venue
The van has to be able to get in and park safely, so a few things need checking. These are the things we check:
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Mushy peas
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van cooks in front of your guests instead.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. A van fries it right there, so it’s crisp.
For event organisers in Saltdean
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. Ask the council or landowner early.
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 can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
The menu, dish by dish
Gravy
Gravy brings a bit of warmth to the meal, especially in winter.
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there is pie and chips.
Also near Saltdean
More for events in Saltdean
What a fish and chip van costs
Every booking is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Service time
- The minimum booking
- Distance and any road charges
- The number of meals
Larger groups generally cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Dietary needs, with numbers
- Where you’d like the van to go
- A picture of the space and the way in
We quote for each event separately, based on your numbers, timings and travel. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Saltdean: halls, homes and travel
Saltdean is about 1 mile west of Telscombe, in Brighton and Hove. People in Saltdean book us for all sorts of reasons, but the plan is always the same: a level spot for the van, a time to eat and food fried to order. We cover 30 places across Brighton and Hove, from the larger towns to small villages.
After a service at St Nicholas, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone. Saltdean is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural. Saltdean is within about 5 miles of the sea, and for many families fish and chips brings back memories of the seaside.
For wakes in BN2, we just need to know where the van can park and roughly how many guests. From Hill Road, School Lane and Lynwood Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the van to you. Other places close to Saltdean we cover include East Saltdean (1 mile east), Rottingdean (1 mile north-west), Telscombe (1 mile east), Ovingdean (2 miles north-west) and Roedean (3 miles west). Larger places within reach include Brighton (4 miles north-west), Brighton and Hove (7 miles west), Hove (6 miles west), Carlton Hill (4 miles west), Hanover (4 miles north-west) and West Hill (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include French Convalescent Home (3 miles west) and Brighton Motor Museum (3.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve and Newmarket Hill.
- Local schools include Longhill High School (1.6 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include Queen Victoria pub (0.7 miles west)
- 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