Hampshire · England
Funeral and wake catering in Woodlands, Hampshire
Something for almost everyone: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Funeral and wake catering in Woodlands.
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
- Remembrance gatherings
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
Planning an event in Woodlands?
The process
We need time before service to bring the fryers up to heat, so we always arrive well ahead of your serving time. In winter, it is dark in Woodlands by about 4:00pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting near the van. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- Send us your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Everything is fried to order as the queue moves.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
Getting ready for the day
- Clear the route for the van
- Name one person we can call on the day
- Have a level parking spot ready
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, address, rough numbers and when you’d like to eat. We will come back with a clear quote.
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Funeral and wake catering for your wake in Woodlands
Funerals are often arranged at short notice, so get in touch as soon as you can. On the menu are gravy, pie and chips and haddock and chips, and typical bookings are for a tribute meal and a wake at the family home.
In a small place like Woodlands, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Everything is fried fresh at your wake, never cooked in advance and left in a hot cabinet.
Woodlands questions
We are gathering after a service at Bartley Village Hall: can you come?
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 generally elsewhere. Tell us where you’ll gather.
Do you come out to small places like Woodlands?
Not at all. We serve villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Can you cater a wake at short notice?
We understand the timescales, so ask and we will reply quickly.
What if we do not know numbers?
Start with a rough number, and we will plan with a little extra.
Can someone else arrange it?
Of course. We are happy to deal with the funeral director or a family friend.
Can the van park on grass?
Usually, if it is firm and dry. After heavy rain, soft grass can be a problem for any vehicle, so plan a back-up spot.
Is the fish gluten-free?
Standard batter is made with wheat flour, so battered fish contains gluten. Tell us about coeliac guests when you enquire, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible.
Is the food cooked at the event?
Yes. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, not cooked earlier and kept warm.
A fish and chip van or other catering?
Sandwiches are traditional at wakes. A hot meal can be more comforting, especially in winter. Most vans have a minimum charge, because the van, fuel and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask us what applies to your wake.
Why Woodlands hosts choose us
- Events in Woodlands and across Hampshire
- We cook inside the van, whatever the weather
- Everything cooked to order at your event
- Classic food your guests already know
Where the van can park in Woodlands
A fish and chip van is a vehicle, so the spot matters, so a few things need checking. Here’s what we look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the van
- A spot near your guests
- Permission from the venue or landowner for the van
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we serve
- Sausage and chips
- Mushy peas
- Cod and chips
- Gravy
- Pie and chips
- Haddock and chips
Working with your venue
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Sending people up in groups helps.
Venues frequently 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.
Nearby places to Woodlands
Other occasions in Woodlands
Events we cater in Woodlands
For some families, it was a favourite meal.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Woodlands and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Life celebrations
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- A tribute meal
- Wakes at church halls and clubs
Families holding a service at Bartley Village Hall often gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
What your quote should include
- How allergens are handled
- The cancellation terms
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The service time, and the cost of running over
Looking after everyone
Tell us about dietary needs and allergies early, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible. To make it work smoothly:
- Check the hall or venue allows a catering van
- Cater for a few more than you expect
- Use the funeral director’s experience on numbers
- Ensure older relatives can sit
We start when you give the word, not to a rigid schedule.
Have napkins and bins ready.
A closer look at the menu
Cod and chips
For many people, cod and chips is the definitive version. Cooked fresh at the hatch, it goes out hot and crisp.
Curry sauce
Chip-shop curry sauce is a mild, slightly sweet British classic, perfect with chips or a sausage.
Should I sort the food myself?
Collecting fish and chips for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s hard work. By the time you’ve queued, paid and driven back, the batter has gone soft. With a van, it’s fried on the spot.
Ordering from a local shop? Call ahead and collect at the last minute. For anything more than a handful of people, a van is generally the easier option.
Arranging a wake in Woodlands
Woodlands is about 2 miles south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. Across the SO40 area, we can fry fresh for your guests. Woodlands is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 6 miles away.
Relatives arriving by train should know that the closest railway station is Ashurst New Forest station, roughly 0.9 miles south-east of the centre. Woodlands is within about 3 miles of the New Forest National Park, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
For wakes in SO40, we just need to know where the van can park. From Alpine Road, The Crescent and Hazel Grove or a nearby road, we can park up and fry there. Other places close to Woodlands we cover include Netley Marsh (1 mile north), Ashurst Bridge (1 mile north-east), Bartley (1 mile north-west), Hounsdown (2 miles east) and Winsor (2 miles north). We also serve nearby towns such as Winchester (15 miles north-east), Eastleigh (10 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Chandler's Ford (9 miles north-east), Hedge End (10 miles east) and Lymington (10 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include National Dairy Museum (1.5 miles east) and Ashurst Hospital (0.9 miles south-east). Within reach you’ll find Copythorne Common.
- Local schools include Hounsdown School (2 miles east)
- Local pubs include The New Forest pub (0.8 miles south-east)
- 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