Greater London · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Smithfield events
Hot, crisp and cooked while you wait: fish and chips for the wake in Smithfield and the surrounding area.
- A wake at the family home
- Wakes at venues
- Anniversary memorials
Book the van in Smithfield
About our funeral and wake catering in Smithfield
Services frequently run over, and we will work around the service and the family. On the menu are gravy, cod and chips and pie and chips, and we are often booked for remembrance gatherings and gatherings at a village hall or club.
In Smithfield, a hall with parking is often the easiest option. The fryers are in the van, so the cooking happens right there at your wake, so the batter is still crisp when it is handed over.
- Area
- Smithfield (EC1V, EC1P, EC1R)
- County
- Greater London
- Menu
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- On the side
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
DIY versus a fish and chip van
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.
You could do a chip-shop run for everyone yourself, but it rarely works for a crowd. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Arranging a wake in Smithfield
Smithfield is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. People in Smithfield 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. Smithfield is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we bring the van.
With the A1 and A4 nearby, it is easy for family travelling by car to reach Smithfield. For family travelling by train, Smithfield has its own station, Farringdon station.
We serve wakes across EC1V, EC1P and EC1R and the streets around it. That could mean a wake at a home on Oat Lane, Shoe Lane and Long Lane or the roads around them, wherever the van can park. Smithfield is on the A1 and A4, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van. If your venue is just outside Smithfield, we also cover Farringdon (1 mile north), Blackfriars (1 mile south), Holborn (1 mile west), Temple Bar (1 mile south-west) and Clerkenwell (1 mile north). We also serve nearby towns such as Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (4 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Postal Museum (under half a mile south-east) and Finsbury Health Centre (0.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Smithfield includes Ludgate Hill and St. James's Park Lake.
- Local schools include St Alban's Church of England Primary School (within half a mile west) and London Nautical School (0.9 miles south)
- Local pubs include Oriole pub (within half a mile south-west)
- Local facilities include Barts Health Archives (under half a mile south-east) and County of London (0.5 miles south-east)
Prices and what affects them
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Numbers
- The minimum booking
- Parking and the way in
- The day of the week
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Where you’d like the van to go
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many people, including children
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your wake, and we will check the date and send a price.
Space, access and the venue
Every site is different, so we ask about the spot and the way in before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A level, firm spot the van can drive onto
- Space for people to queue at the hatch
- Confirmation that the van can park there
Smithfield 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.
On the menu in Smithfield
- Pie and chips
- Cod and chips
- Sausage and chips
- Haddock and chips
- Mushy peas
- Gravy
Step by step
Here’s how the day normally runs: we arrive, park up and set up, the oil comes up to temperature, and food goes out hot when you are ready to eat. Sunset in Smithfield is about 7:05pm in late September and about 3:55pm in December; ensure older guests have a well-lit route to the van.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A picture of the parking spot helps us check the van will fit.
- A week or so before, we confirm timings and numbers.
- We park, open the hatch and start frying for family and friends.
- Last portion served, we tidy up and head off.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level parking spot ready
- Give us your final numbers and allergies
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. To send your details, use our quote form.
Planning help
Smithfield questions
Could you trade in Postman's Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
What about parking in Smithfield?
It can be, so tell us about driveways, yards, car parks or a council suspension. We will work around it.
What does it cost to hire the van?
Every booking is quoted individually, based on your numbers and timings. Give us your date, numbers and serving time and we’ll reply with a price.
Do you do anything other than fish?
We serve sausages and pies as well as fish. Tell us about other diets and we’ll be honest about what’s possible.
Do you need power or water?
Somewhere suitable to park, with permission. Tell us whether there’s power or water nearby and we will take it from there.
Where can the van park?
Level, firm ground the van can reach, near your guests, and space for a queue. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. We’ll agree arrival and serving times with you so food is ready when you want it.
Can our funeral director book for us?
Of course. We can work with whoever is helping you.
A closer look at the menu
Gravy
Chips and gravy is a favourite in the north and the Midlands, and it goes perfectly with a pie.
Sausage and chips
A sausage and chips is the chip-shop classic for younger guests and fish-dodgers, especially with curry sauce.
Places near Smithfield
Other occasions in Smithfield
Events we cater in Smithfield
It’s one less thing to organise.
Here are some of the occasions we serve:
- A tribute meal
- Gatherings after the committal
- Small family memorials
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
If there isn’t room at home, a hall or club near Smithfield may suit, with the van in the car park.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether there’s a minimum
- The cancellation terms
Looking after everyone
With a little notice, diets are easier to plan for. We suggest:
- Mention allergies you know about
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Confirm the van can park at the hall
- Check the hall has an urn
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Some families add a favourite dessert or cake.
Working with your venue
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.
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
- 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