Southampton · England
Funeral and wake catering in Shirley, Southampton
Something for almost everyone: fish and chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Book fish and chips for the wake in Shirley.
- A tribute meal
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Memorial gatherings
Planning an event in Shirley?
Wakes in Shirley: venues and practical details
Shirley is about 2 miles west of Southampton, in Southampton. For a wake in Shirley, the van can park on drives, in car parks and yards, and on firm lawns and fields in and around Shirley. Shirley is one of 40 places in Southampton we cover.
Relatives arriving by train should know that the nearest station is Millbrook (Hants) station, about 0.7 miles south. Families holding a service at Shirley Parish Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park. Shirley is within about 8 miles of the New Forest National Park; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural. Shirley is within about 3 miles of the sea, and for many families fish and chips brings back memories of the seaside.
Wakes anywhere in SO15, SO16 and SO17 start with a parking spot for the van. Your wake could be at a house on May Road, Dyer Road and York Road, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. Shirley is on the A3057, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Regents Park (1 mile west), Freemantle (1 mile south), Millbrook (1 mile south-west), Coxford (1 mile north-west) and Maybush (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Townhill Park (3 miles east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles south-east). Being one of Southampton’s larger places, Shirley has plenty of venues, halls and workplaces.
A little further out are Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (1 mile south-east). Green spaces nearby include Testwood Lakes.
- Local schools include Regents Park Community College (under half a mile west) and Millbrook Community School (1.3 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Crown Public House (less than half a mile north-west)
About our funeral and wake catering in Shirley
Funerals are frequently arranged at short notice, so get in touch as soon as you can. On the menu are pie and chips, gravy and haddock and chips, and typical bookings are for memorial events and anniversaries and small family memorials.
For a wake in a place like Shirley, the village hall is frequently the heart of it. We bring the van and everything we need to cook, and we leave the pitch tidy when we go.
- Location
- Shirley (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- County
- Southampton
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Extras
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
Places near Shirley
Other occasions in Shirley
How the day works
The smell of the fryers does the inviting. Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, with chips cooked in batches as the queue moves. In summer, a wake in Shirley has light until about 9:25pm, but in December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so plan lighting near the door.
- The family or funeral director sends us the date, place and numbers.
- We check where the van can park and send a clear price.
- We agree a time to arrive and when food should be ready, allowing for the service running over.
- On the day we set up quietly and serve when guests are ready.
- When everyone has eaten, we clear up and go.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
Get a quote
We only need a few details to quote: date, address, numbers and serving time. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
What a fish and chip van costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Service time
- Parking and the way in
- The day of the week
- Distance and any road charges
Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: service time, menu, travel, any minimum and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The address or venue name
- The spot you have in mind for the van
- Expected numbers
- Dietary needs, with numbers
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and serving time. We will come back with a clear quote.
Allergies and dietary needs
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Allow a little extra
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
- Arrange tea and coffee separately
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
Make sure older relatives can sit to eat.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
A chip van compared with other options
A sit-down meal can feel formal. Fish and chips lets people mingle. Compared with a sit-down meal, a fish and chip van is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and no crockery hire. Ask us for a quote.
Why Shirley hosts choose us
- Bookings across Southampton, including Shirley
- No kitchen, no crockery, no washing up
- A quote that spells everything out
- A menu almost everyone likes
Events we cater in Shirley
It takes one job off a very long list at a difficult time.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Shirley and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Memorial gatherings
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Memorial events and anniversaries
Relatives driving in can use the A3057 to reach Shirley.
Questions to ask before booking
- Any minimum charge
- How long service runs, and what happens if you overrun
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
Space, access and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the spot and the way in when you contact us. In general, we need:
- Somewhere close to where people will eat
- Room in front of the hatch for a queue
- A clear way in, with no low branches, cables or narrow gates
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Shirley
- Sausage and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Haddock and chips
Planners, venues and businesses
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.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work through them with you.
Food your guests will love
Gravy
A pot of gravy turns chips into comfort food, especially in winter.
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the classic side with fish and chips.
Shirley questions
Which station is closest to Shirley?
The closest is Millbrook (Hants) station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
Can you serve after a service at Shirley Parish Church?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with somewhere for the van. Food is normally served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
Can someone else arrange it?
Of course. We’re happy to deal with the funeral director or a family friend.
Can you park on the road outside?
It depends on the road. Off-road parking is typically simpler; if it has to be the street, check with the council.
What if timings change?
We plan for delays. We’ll work to your contact on the day.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the van and everything we need to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Who clears up?
The pitch is left as we found it. It helps to have bins near the hatch.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
Typically, if it is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
- 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