Kent · England
Funeral and Wake Catering in Canterbury
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Funeral and wake catering in Canterbury.
- A tribute meal
- Wakes at a pub or venue with outside space
- Wakes at home
Funeral and wake catering in Canterbury
Should I sort the food myself?
For a small group, making your own food can work. For larger numbers, or when you want hot food, a van takes the pressure off, and nobody has to miss the wake.
Not sure whether to order in or book a van? Think about numbers, timing and how hot you want the food. We’re happy to send a quote so you can compare.
Funeral and wake catering in Canterbury, fried fresh
After a funeral, people want somewhere to gather and something comforting to eat. Fish and chips is familiar and comforting. We are often asked to cater family meals after the service and wakes at venues, serving gravy, mushy peas and cod and chips.
A local hall or club in Canterbury often suits a wake. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we’ll be straight with you about what we can do.
Also near Canterbury
Also in Canterbury
Planners, venues and businesses
For big groups, the service window matters, so we can plan service to match. Staggering groups helps a lot.
Many venues set rules for catering vans: where a van can park, access times and the paperwork they want. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work through them with you.
Events we cater in Canterbury
There is little waste, because food is cooked to order.
The van suits big events and small ones. Typical bookings include:
- Family meals after the service
- Remembering a loved one’s favourite food
- Remembrance gatherings
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
If relatives are coming by rail, Canterbury East station serves Canterbury directly.
Comparing caterers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When final numbers are due
- Whether travel is included
- VAT, if it applies
Planning for dietary needs
Tell us about dietary needs and allergies early, and we will be straight with you about what’s possible. To make it work smoothly:
- Allow a little extra
- Ask the venue about the van
- Ask your funeral director to help estimate numbers
- Keep the serving time flexible
Allow time for travel from the service, crematorium or burial ground when choosing a serving time.
Somewhere quiet to sit helps some guests.
Step by step
Service is quick: food goes from the fryer to the hatch. When service is finished, we pack up and leave the pitch tidy. Late-December sunset in Canterbury is about 3:50pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the van and the door helps. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:15pm.
- You share your date, numbers and address.
- We check access for the van and quote.
- We arrive early to park and heat the fryers.
- Fish goes into the batter and straight into the fryer, to order.
- Service is straight from the hatch, then we pack up.
How to prepare
- Arrange somewhere dry for the queue
- Leave room in front of the hatch for a queue
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
We only need a few details to quote: date, address, numbers and serving time. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
A formal meal doesn’t always suit. A van keeps it relaxed. Many fish and chip vans set a minimum, since getting the van there costs the same however many eat. We will tell you up front.
Why book our van in Canterbury
- A quote that spells everything out
- Cod, haddock, sausages and pies
- No kitchen needed
- Bookings across Kent, including Canterbury
Read our pricing and what a fish and chip van costs.
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Parking and the way in
- Service time
- The menu and how many choices
- The date and time of year
Distance and any road charges make a difference, so tell us exactly where your wake is.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your wake, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Allergies and diets you know about
- Where the event is
- Rough numbers for adults and children
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: where the van would park, how to get in, numbers and timings. Photos of the spot and the way in help. When you are ready, use our quote form.
After a funeral in Canterbury
Canterbury is in Kent. In and around Canterbury, the van can serve from a drive, a yard, a car park or a firm field. We cover all 922 towns and villages across Kent, from the larger towns to small villages.
With the A2 and A28 nearby, it is easy for family travelling by car to reach Canterbury. Families holding a service at Church of St Margaret or St Thomas of Canterbury Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the van can park.
Wherever your wake is in CT1, CT2, CT4 and CT3, we can bring the van to you. Streets in the area include Long Market, High Street and High Street St Gregorys, and the van can serve a wake on any of them with a suitable parking spot. You’ll find Canterbury on the A2 and A28, so it is easy for us to reach with the van. Close by, we cover wakes in Wincheap (1 mile south-west), Harbledown (1 mile west), Hales Place (1 mile north), Thanington (1 mile south-west) and Stuppington (1 mile south). We also serve nearby towns such as Ashford (13 miles south-west), Margate (15 miles north-east), Dover (14 miles south-east), Folkestone (14 miles south), Ramsgate (15 miles east) and Whitstable (6 miles north-west). Canterbury is among the bigger towns we cover in Kent, with lots of choice for wakes.
Nearby you’ll also find Whitefriars Shopping Centre (under half a mile south-west) and Canterbury Roman Museum (less than half a mile south). Within reach you’ll find Blean Woods RSPB Reserve.
- Local schools include Barton Court Grammar School (0.5 miles east) and Canterbury School of Architecture (0.5 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Old Buttermarket pub (less than half a mile south-west)
What comes out of the fryer
Sausage and chips
Sausage and chips is the go-to for anyone who is not a fish fan, especially with curry sauce.
Cod and chips
Cod is the classic: mild, white and flaky, and it’s what most people in the south ask for. It is battered and fried to order, so it is crisp when it reaches you.
Your questions about fish and chips for the wake in Canterbury
How far is Canterbury from London?
About 53 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Could you trade in Bus Company Island?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
What does the van need?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, and space for a queue. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
Do we need to provide equipment?
The van comes fully equipped to cook. You just need a suitable spot and permission.
Do you have allergen information?
Tell us about allergies when you book, and we will give you the allergen information.
Can you be flexible on the day?
Yes. We serve when people are ready.
Can someone else arrange it?
Yes, that is common.
Is everything cooked fresh?
It is. We cook inside the van, so food is cooked there and then, rather than made in advance.
- 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