East Sussex · England
Funeral and wake catering in St Leonards, East Sussex
From the first sizzle in the fryer to the last chip, fish and chips for the wake makes the food a highlight of your wake in St Leonards.
- Family gatherings after a burial or cremation
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
Fresh fish and chips in St Leonards
Funeral and wake catering in St Leonards, fried fresh
A wake needs warm, simple food. Fish and chips is familiar and comforting. We’re often asked to cater wakes at a pub or venue with outside space and a favourite meal in someone’s memory, with cod and chips, gravy and pie and chips.
For a wake in St Leonards, somewhere close to the church or crematorium helps. 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.
- Location
- St Leonards (TN38, TN37, TN34)
- County
- East Sussex
- Menu
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- On the side
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
The menu, dish by dish
Sausage and chips
For anyone who doesn’t fancy fish, there is sausage and chips, and children love it.
Curry sauce
Chip-shop curry sauce is a mild, slightly sweet British classic, great with chips and sausages.
FAQs for St Leonards
Can the van park in Summerfields Wood?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them first.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, of course. The cooking is inside the van, so wind does not affect it, but the queue will want shelter.
Where do you take the van?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including St Leonards.
What’s on the menu?
Proper fish and chips, plus sausage or pie and chips. The sides are mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy.
What if we only have street parking?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
Is short notice a problem?
Wakes are frequently arranged quickly, so send us the date and we will answer right away.
Can a friend deal with you?
Yes, that’s common.
What does it cost to hire the van?
It depends on numbers, the menu, how long we serve and travel. Tell us about your wake and we’ll send a quote.
Wakes in St Leonards: venues and practical details
St Leonards is about 1 mile south-west of Hastings, in East Sussex. Whether your wake is in the middle of St Leonards or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. We serve 289 places across East Sussex. We serve events right across the region, from St Leonards to Brighton (about 30 miles away).
Relatives driving in can use the A259 and A2102 to reach St Leonards. After a service at St John the Evangelist's Church, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone. The coast is within about 2 miles of St Leonards, and for many families fish and chips brings back memories of the seaside.
This part of East Sussex takes in TN38, TN37 and TN34, and we can serve your wake anywhere in it. Your wake could be at a house on Sea Road, Fern Road and Dane Road, as long as there’s somewhere for the van. St Leonards sits on or near the A259 and A2102, so getting the van to your wake is simple. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Silverhill (1 mile north), Hastings (1 mile north-east), America Ground (1 mile east), Bulverhythe (1 mile west) and Hollington (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (13 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (4 miles west), Hailsham (13 miles west), Polegate (13 miles west), Old Town (14 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west). Being one of East Sussex’s larger places, St Leonards has lots of places where the van can park.
A little further out are Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.2 miles east) and Conquest Hospital (2.2 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Nearby schools include The St Leonards Academy (0.8 miles west) and University School (0.9 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include Horse And Groom Public House (less than half a mile south-east)
Prices and what affects them
Fish and chip van pricing is simple once we know the basics:
- Service time
- Cod, haddock or both
- Whether a minimum applies
- Access and parking
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your wake is.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Expected numbers
- The date and when you’d like to eat
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Occasions we serve in St Leonards
There’s no kitchen work for anyone.
Whatever brings people together, fish and chips from the hatch goes down well. We regularly serve:
- Celebrations of life
- Anniversary memorials
- A favourite meal in someone’s memory
- Scattering of ashes gatherings
Relatives arriving by train should know that there’s a station right in St Leonards: St Leonards Warrior Square station.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- Whether VAT is included
- A clear list of what’s included
- How late numbers can change
Why choose a fish and chip van in St Leonards?
Compared with a buffet, a van gives everyone a hot meal, which helps when numbers are hard to predict. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why St Leonards hosts choose us
- A menu almost everyone likes
- All the chip-shop extras
- A clear quote before you book
- Everything cooked to order at your event
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
What happens on the day
On the day, we position the van, set up the hatch and get the fryers up to temperature. Once we are hot, we cook to order, so we time it to your schedule. Summer evenings in St Leonards stay light until about 9:15pm, but in December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so plan lighting near the door.
- Tell us what you’re planning and when you’d like to eat.
- You hear back on the date and the price.
- We agree exactly where the van parks, and how it gets in.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- We leave the spot as we found it.
Before we arrive
- Share the timings for the day
- Check the way in for low branches, cables and narrow gates
- Name one person we can call on the day
Getting a price
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, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
DIY versus a fish and chip 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.
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. Long waits and a drive home mean food arrives lukewarm and soggy. With a van, it is fried on the spot.
Towns and villages near St Leonards
What else we do in St Leonards
Diets, allergies and planning
We take allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Name a contact for the day who isn’t close family
- Plan seating for older guests
- Ask a friend to run a tea table
- Mention allergies you know about
Afterwards, we leave quietly.
A table of photos helps people talk.
- 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