West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Small Dole events
Looking for fish and chips for the wake in Small Dole? The van comes to your venue, home or workplace and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Family meals after the service
- Life celebrations
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
Book the van in Small Dole
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Small Dole
We keep it calm and simple. We park discreetly and serve when people are ready. Popular choices include pie and chips, cod and chips and sausage and chips, and typical bookings are for wakes at a pub or venue with outside space and gatherings after the committal.
In a small place like Small Dole, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we will be straight with you about what we can do before you book.
- Location
- Small Dole (BN5)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- From the fryer
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Extras
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 24 October 2026
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up and bring the oil up to temperature. Your guests can wander over to the hatch once service starts. A wake in Small Dole in late autumn or winter may run into the dark, with sunset about 7:05pm in late September and 3:55pm in December, so a lit path to the van is a kindness to older guests.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check the route in and send a price.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Check the venue or landowner is happy for the van to park
Getting a price
Every quote is worked out for your event. Start with your date, and we will check availability straight away.
Related guides
What affects the price in Small Dole
The same numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How far we travel
- Access and parking
- The day of the week
- How many people are eating
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest how to make it work. A short menu is frequently the best value.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
- Where the van would park
- A photo of the space and the way in
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. A picture of the spot helps too. To send your details, use our quote form.
The menu, dish by dish
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are made from dried marrowfat peas, soaked and cooked until soft. They’re the side most people expect.
Curry sauce
Curry sauce divides opinion and it’s on the menu.
FAQs for Small Dole
Could you trade in Tottington Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first.
What’s the nearest station to Small Dole?
The closest is Shoreham-By-Sea station, roughly 4.8 miles away.
Can you park on the road outside?
That depends on local parking rules. Off-road parking is usually simpler; if it has to be the street, check with the council.
Is everything cooked fresh?
Yes, always. Everything is fried fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
Do you do anything other than fish?
There is: sausages and pies, with chips. Give us a rough idea of numbers.
How much space do you need?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, near your guests, with room for a queue at the hatch. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
How do we estimate numbers?
A rough estimate is enough to start. Funeral directors can advise from experience.
How do you handle allergies?
We provide allergen information for everything we serve. Battered fish contains fish and, in standard batter, gluten. Tell us about allergies in advance.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on parking and timings.
Parks, greens and streets normally need permission for a catering van. The council or landowner will tell you what they need.
Planning the van’s spot
We will be honest if a spot won’t work. What matters most:
- A spot near your guests
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
Not sure about the spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Small Dole
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
Takeaway run or book a van?
A DIY buffet works for small groups. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the wake.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Planning for dietary needs
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Here’s how:
- Check the hall has an urn
- Build in time for delays
- Mention allergies you know about
- Let someone else talk to us on the day
Ensure older relatives can sit to eat.
Have napkins and bins ready.
After a funeral in Small Dole
Small Dole is about 5 miles north of Shoreham-by-Sea, in West Sussex. We cover Small Dole as standard, so all we need is your date, a parking spot and a time to serve. Small Dole is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we bring the van. We serve events right across the region, from Small Dole to Brighton (about 8 miles away).
Small Dole is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural. The coast is within about 6 miles of Small Dole, and for many families fish and chips brings back memories of the seaside.
Wakes anywhere in BN5 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many guests. From Downsview, Tottington Drive and Orchard Close or anywhere nearby, we will bring the van to you. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Woodmancote (2 miles north-east), Henfield (2 miles north), Blackstone (2 miles north-east), Albourne (3 miles north-east) and High Cross (3 miles north-east). We also serve nearby towns such as Crawley (15 miles north), Horsham (11 miles north), Worthing (8 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles north-east) and Littlehampton (13 miles south-west).
A little further out are Southlands Hospital (4.4 miles south) and Steyning Museum (2.6 miles south-west). The countryside around Small Dole includes Woods Mill and Truleigh Hill.
Also near Small Dole
Other occasions in Small Dole
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Compared with a buffet, fish and chips is hot and simple, and there is less waste when numbers are uncertain. A chip van often compares well with a plated meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and nothing to wash up. We’ll send you a quote.
Why book our van in Small Dole
- No surprises in your quote
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- Classic food your guests already know
- No kitchen needed
Take a look at our pricing or what a fish and chip van costs.
- 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