West Sussex · England
Funeral and Wake Catering for Tilgate events
Looking for fish and chips for the wake in Tilgate? The van comes to your venue, home or workplace and fry fresh while your guests queue at the hatch.
- Pub wakes
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings after the committal
Fresh fish and chips in Tilgate
Funeral and wake catering in Tilgate, fried fresh
Some families choose it because it was a loved one’s favourite, which makes it a fitting tribute. Popular choices include sausage and chips, pie and chips and haddock and chips, and we’re regularly asked to cater memorial gatherings and a tribute meal.
In Tilgate, the hall or the family home is a natural choice. Let us know where the van can go. We keep the menu short: fewer choices means fresher food and shorter queues.
- Area
- Tilgate (RH10, RH11)
- County
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Fish and chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Curry sauce, mushy peas and gravy
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Making food yourself for a wake is a lot to take on. We do the cooking. Larger groups typically cost less per head, because the van, travel and set-up cost much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why book our van in Tilgate
- Fried fresh, not kept warm
- No kitchen needed
- Mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side
- Quick service from the hatch
Take a look at our pricing or what a fish and chip van costs.
Wake catering near Tilgate
Tilgate is about 1 mile south-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. Whether your wake is in the middle of Tilgate or on the outskirts, the service works the same way: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. We take the van to all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 19 miles away.
After a service at Holy Trinity, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Here we cover the RH10 and RH11 postcode area. Streets in the area include York Road, Nash Road and Cook Road, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. Neighbouring places where we serve wakes include Southgate (1 mile west), Crawley (1 mile north-west), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east), Maidenbower (1 mile east) and West Green (1 mile north-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Horsham (7 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (8 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (10 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (6 miles west).
Nearby you will also find County Mall (0.7 miles north-west) and Crawley Hospital (1.2 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake.
- Nearby schools include Three Bridges Junior School (0.5 miles north-west) and Thomas Bennett Community College (0.6 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Grasshopper pub (under half a mile south)
What a fish and chip van costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The date and time of year
- Cod, haddock or both
- The number of meals
- Travel, tolls and road charges
Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your wake.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Roughly how many people, including children
- The venue or postcode
- Allergies and diets you know about
- How to get in: gates, lanes and ground
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your wake, and we will come back with availability and a quote.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone is looked after. Here’s how:
- Mention allergies you know about
- Build in time for delays
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Check the hall has an urn
A friend or the funeral director can be our contact.
A quiet room away from the crowd is a kindness.
Why choose funeral and wake catering in Tilgate?
It’s one less thing to organise at a difficult time.
In Tilgate and nearby, the van turns up at all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Memorial events and anniversaries
- Memorial gatherings
- A tribute meal
- Village hall wakes
For family travelling by train, the nearest station is Crawley station, about 0.6 miles north-west.
Before you book anyone
- How allergens are handled
- What the price includes, item by item
- The cancellation terms
- VAT, if it applies
What comes out of the fryer
Haddock and chips
Haddock is a little sweeter than cod, with a finer, firmer flake. It is the traditional favourite in Scotland and much of the north.
Mushy peas
Mushy peas are a must for plenty of fish and chip fans.
Places near Tilgate
What else we do in Tilgate
DIY versus a fish and chip van
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. A van fries it right there, so it is crisp.
Weighing up a takeaway order against booking a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Organising for someone else?
Parks, greens and streets generally need permission for a catering van. 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’ll confirm what we can provide.
How the day works
On the day, we park up on the agreed spot, set up and heat the fryers. Once we’re hot, we cook to order, timed around your wake. Sunset in Tilgate is about 7:05pm in late September and about 3:55pm in December; plan a lit path from the door to the van.
- Tell us what you are planning and when you’d like to eat.
- We come back with availability and a clear price.
- The van’s spot is fixed in advance.
- Batter, fish and chips all go into the fryer as people come up.
- The pitch is left tidy when we go.
Before we arrive
- Clear the route for the van
- Keep space clear for guests at the hatch
- Have a level parking spot ready
Getting a price
Send us the date, the address or RH10 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat, and you will get a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Tilgate: your questions answered
Can you serve after a service at Holy Trinity?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby where the van can park. Churches rarely have space for a catering van, so the food is normally elsewhere. Tell us where you will gather.
How far is Tilgate from London?
About 28 miles from central London, and well within our area.
How much is fish and chip van hire?
It depends on numbers, the menu, how long we serve and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Our battered fish contains gluten, because standard batter uses wheat flour. Tell us about coeliac guests when you enquire, and we’ll tell you honestly what we can offer.
Do you fry it on site?
Yes. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
Is short notice a problem?
We understand the timescales, so send us the date and we will answer straight away.
What if the service runs late?
We allow for it. We will work to your contact on the day.
Can you go on a lawn or field?
Generally, if it is firm and dry. Soft, wet ground can trap any vehicle, so have a hard-surface back-up.
- 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