East Sussex · England
Funeral and wake catering in Sweethaws, East Sussex
Funeral and wake catering in Sweethaws: fish and chips cooked fresh in the van, then handed over hot from the hatch.
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after the committal
- Anniversary memorials
Funeral and wake catering in Sweethaws
Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Sweethaws
It is an informal meal, which suits a wake where people move around and talk. We’re frequently asked to cater family meals after the service and village hall wakes, serving haddock and chips, gravy and cod and chips.
In a small place like Sweethaws, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Let us know about access. We cook inside the van, right where your guests are, so the batter is still crisp when it’s handed over.
- Location
- Sweethaws (TN6)
- County
- East Sussex
- On the menu
- Cod and haddock, chips, sausages and pies
- Extras
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 24 October 2026
After a funeral in Sweethaws
Sweethaws is about 2 miles south-west of Crowborough, in East Sussex. Bookings in Sweethaws come in all shapes and sizes, but the plan is always the same: somewhere to park, a time to serve and fresh frying. Sweethaws is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 18 miles away.
The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Sweethaws, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Wakes anywhere in TN6 start with a parking spot for the van. If your venue is just outside Sweethaws, we also cover High Hurstwood (1 mile south), Crowborough (2 miles north-east), Fairwarp (2 miles south-west), Jarvis Brook (2 miles north-east) and Marden's Hill (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Lewes (12 miles south-west), Hailsham (13 miles south-east), Uckfield (5 miles south), South Malling (12 miles south-west), Heathfield (7 miles south-east) and Southover (13 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Tickerage Castle (4.6 miles south) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (1.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Sweethaws includes Crowborough Country Park.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Crow & Gate inn (0.6 miles north-west)
Space, access and the venue
Plenty of places work for the van, but a few things matter:
- The site’s agreement to a catering van
- A clear area by the serving hatch
- Lighting nearby for evening events
Not sure about the spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
From the hatch
- Haddock and chips
- Cod and chips
- Mushy peas
- Sausage and chips
- Pie and chips
- Gravy
A chip van compared with other options
A sit-down meal can feel formal. A van keeps it relaxed. Comparing vans? Look at what each quote includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
Why us?
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
- Events in Sweethaws and across East Sussex
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- A quote that spells everything out
Take a look at how we price and the cost guide.
Food your guests will love
Pie and chips
For a heartier option, there’s pie and chips.
Gravy
Gravy brings a bit of warmth to the meal, especially in winter.
Planners, venues and businesses
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers and vehicles: parking spots, arrival times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Let us know of any allergies
- Plan for a few extra people
- Ask the venue about the van
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
Give us a contact for the day who is not a close family member.
Photos or a memory book give people something to share.
Who books funeral and wake catering in Sweethaws?
It works for everyone.
The van suits big events and small ones. Common bookings include:
- Celebrations of life
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Gatherings after the committal
- A wake at the family home
Relatives arriving by train should know that Crowborough station, about 2.2 miles east, is the nearest station.
Questions to ask before you book
- How allergens are handled
- Payment terms and deposit
- VAT, if it applies
- Whether travel is included
Prices and what affects them
Fish and chip van pricing is simple once we know the basics:
- Travel, tolls and road charges
- Any minimum charge
- How many people are eating
- The day of the week
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- A picture of where the van would go
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Dietary needs, with numbers
Still finalising the details? That is fine: tell us the basics about your wake, and we will firm it up nearer the time. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Sweethaws
Do you come out to small places like Sweethaws?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
How far is Sweethaws from London?
About 34 miles from central London.
What does the van need?
Level, firm ground the van can reach, near your guests, and space for a queue. Tell us about gates, lanes and soft ground.
Can you come to the house?
Frequently, yes. Send us a photo of the drive or the road outside.
What if we only have street parking?
Only in a legal space, or with the council’s permission. Ask your council early.
Can coeliacs eat the battered fish?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance, and we’ll be straight with you about what’s possible.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. The fryers are in the van, so food is cooked there and then, rather than made in advance.
What if timings change?
We allow for it. We will agree a serving time and stay flexible.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If things run late, we simply start frying a little later, so nothing is cooked before it’s needed. In winter, it is dark in Sweethaws by about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. In summer, there is daylight until about 9:15pm.
- Start with three things: the date, the place and a rough headcount.
- A photo 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.
- Once the last portion is out, we pack up and go.
Preparing for the day
- Think about a gazebo by the van in case of rain
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Send us final numbers and any allergies in good time
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the parking spot, access, numbers and serving time. A picture of the spot helps too. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Also near Sweethaws
What else we do in Sweethaws
- 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