Greater London · England
Funeral and wake catering in Shirley, Greater London
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Shirley and across Greater London.
- Small family memorials
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
Book the van in Shirley
How our funeral and wake catering works in Shirley
It’s an informal meal, which suits a wake where people move around and talk. We’re often asked to cater wakes at a pub or venue with outside space and small family memorials, serving pie and chips, sausage and chips and mushy peas.
In Shirley, a wake might be at home, a hall or a local pub. We need somewhere the van can park legally and safely. Your quote spells out what’s included: serving times, the menu and anything else agreed.
- Where
- Shirley (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Region
- Greater London
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- On the side
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
A fish and chip van or other catering?
For a simple, comforting meal at a wake, fish and chips from a van works well in Shirley. Larger groups usually 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.
What you get with us
- A menu almost everyone likes
- No surprises in your quote
- Rain doesn’t stop the fryers
- Nothing for you to cook or clear
Read our prices page and our guide to van hire costs.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
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.
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a spot won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
Shirley is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about off-street space or permits.
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
From the hatch
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
Shirley questions
Could you trade in Ashburton Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Check with them first.
What about parking in Shirley?
London parking needs planning: let us know about off-street space or permits. We’ll plan around it.
Can a friend deal with you?
Of course. We can work with whoever is helping you.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Everything is cooked in the van. Let us know what’s available at the site.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How long will the queue be?
Keeping choices simple and sending people up in groups helps. We’ll talk it through when we quote.
How many people should we cater for?
A rough estimate is enough to start. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
Can the van park on grass?
It depends on the ground. Let us know what the ground is like, and send a photo if you can.
Food your guests will love
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion, so we bring it along.
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips is the go-to for anyone who is not a fish fan, especially with curry sauce.
Towns and villages near Shirley
More for events in Shirley
Diets, allergies and planning
Tell us about dietary needs and allergies early, and we will tell you honestly what we can offer. To make it work smoothly:
- Plan for a few extra people
- Build in time for delays
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
Afterwards, we leave quietly.
A favourite cake can be a lovely touch.
Shirley: halls, homes and travel
Shirley is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. People in Shirley book us for all sorts of reasons, but it always starts the same way: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. We serve 764 places across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 8 miles away.
Relatives driving in can use the A232 to reach Shirley. If there is not room at home, a hall or club near Shirley may suit, with the van in the car park.
We cover wakes in every part of the CR0, SE25 and CR9 postcode area. Local streets include Poppy Lane, Homer Road and Craven Road; a wake on any of them works well with a drive or nearby car park. Shirley sits on or near the A232, which makes travel to your wake easy. Nearby, we also serve wakes in Monks Orchard (1 mile north), Shirley Oaks (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile west), Ashburton (1 mile north-west) and Woodside (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include National Psychosis Unit (1 mile east) and Addiscombe (1.2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Duppas Hill and Bramley Bank.
- Local schools include Orchard Way Primary School (0.6 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Cricketers pub (under half a mile west)
Step by step
We work to your timings. If things run late, we simply start frying a little later, so nothing is cooked before it is needed. Sunset in Shirley is about 7:05pm in late September and about 3:55pm in December; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
How to prepare
- Confirm the van is allowed on site
- Pick a flat, firm place for the van to park
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your wake, and we’ll check the date and send a price.
Planning help
Takeaway run or book a van?
Doing the food yourself saves money, but the host ends up running around. Booking the van means hot food and no stress.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Who books funeral and wake catering in Shirley?
It suits all ages, from children to older relatives.
Here are some of the occasions we serve in Shirley and Greater London:
- Memorial gatherings
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Memorial events and anniversaries
If relatives are coming by rail, Elmers End station is about 1.2 miles away.
What your quote should include
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The van’s size and access needs
- How allergens are handled
- Payment terms and deposit
- 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