West Sussex · England
Funeral and wake catering in Sharpthorne, West Sussex
We bring fish and chips for the wake across Sharpthorne and West Sussex, frying fresh at your venue.
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- A wake at the family home
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
Funeral and wake catering in Sharpthorne
Arranging a wake in Sharpthorne
Sharpthorne is about 4 miles south of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. Wakes in Sharpthorne are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, an agreed spot for the van and food fried fresh on the day. Sharpthorne is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our bookings stretch from Sharpthorne to Brighton (about 17 miles away).
Families holding a service at St Margaret's Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park. Sharpthorne is within about 4 miles of the High Weald National Landscape; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH19, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. That could mean a wake at a home on Station Road, Marlpit Road and Bayhams Field or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. We also bring the van to wakes in West Hoathly (1 mile west), Highbrook (2 miles south), Selsfield Common (2 miles north-west), Little London (2 miles south-west) and Birchgrove (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (7 miles west), Horsham (12 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (9 miles south-west), East Grinstead (4 miles north) and Broadfield (7 miles west).
A little further out are Waterbury Castle (2.6 miles south) and East Grinstead Museum (3.7 miles north-east). Within reach you will find Hedgecourt Lake.
- Local pubs include The Fox pub (within half a mile west)
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Sharpthorne
We understand that timings on the day can move, so we stay flexible. Popular choices include haddock and chips, pie and chips and gravy, and we’re frequently booked for scattering of ashes gatherings and remembrance gatherings.
In rural Sharpthorne, home or the hall is usual. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer before booking.
- Area
- Sharpthorne (RH19)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Mushy peas, curry sauce, gravy
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Allergies and dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Here’s how:
- Keep the serving time flexible
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Allow a little extra
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
A friend or the funeral director can be our contact.
Have napkins and bins ready.
Sharpthorne: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to Sharpthorne?
East Grinstead station, about 3.6 miles north of the centre.
We are gathering after a service at St Margaret's Church: can you come?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is generally served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
Do you clear up afterwards?
The pitch is left as we found it. Bins for guests are worth planning.
Do we need to provide anything?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Mention any power or water available and we will confirm the rest.
Do you serve wakes at home?
Yes. Tell us about parking at the house.
How long will the queue be?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. Tell us your timings and we will advise.
How do we estimate numbers?
Start with a rough number, and we will plan with a little extra.
Do you have allergen information?
Yes, we can tell you which allergens are in each item. Fish and gluten are the main ones in battered fish. Tell us about allergies in advance.
For event organisers in Sharpthorne
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If your event is in a public place, such as a park or a street, check what permission you need first. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Can’t we just order from the chip shop?
DIY food keeps costs down, but the host spends the event serving. With a fish and chip van, you get hot food without the work.
Some hosts try a takeaway order. Large orders are slow, and the food cools in the bags. A van solves that by cooking on site.
Perfect for your wake in Sharpthorne
It takes one job off a very long list.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Sharpthorne and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Village hall wakes
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Wakes at home
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is East Grinstead station, roughly 3.6 miles north of the centre.
What your quote should include
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- What happens if plans change
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- Whether travel is included
Places near Sharpthorne
More for events in Sharpthorne
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where the van parks. It needs to tick a few simple boxes:
- Light near the van and the queue for evening service
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- Confirmation that the van can park there
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we serve
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Sausage and chips
How it works
We arrive on time, pulls onto the spot you’ve chosen and the hatch goes up. Once the oil is hot, the first portions go out right on schedule. Late-December sunset in Sharpthorne is about 3:55pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- The family or funeral director sends us the date, place and numbers.
- We check the spot for the van and send a quote.
- Timings allow for the service and travel from it.
- On the day we set up quietly and serve when guests are ready.
- Afterwards we pack up quietly and leave the spot tidy.
How to prepare
- Ensure the van can get in
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
Ask for a quote
We only need a few details to quote: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
A pub or venue may cater a wake themselves. A van works where they do not, or at home. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Hot food handed straight over
- A clear quote before you book
- The classic sides: peas, curry sauce and gravy
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- How far we travel
- Numbers
- Access and parking
- The date and time of year
Travel, tolls and charges such as ULEZ can affect the price, so it helps to give us the postcode.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Access details such as gates and narrow lanes
- A photo of the space and the way in
- Where the event is
- Where you’d like the van to go
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, along with your serving time, and we will reply with a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
- 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