🤍
Wake Catering — City of London
Wake Catering in the City of London
Wake catering in the City of London usually means a cold buffet, sandwich platters, or an afternoon tea delivered to a church hall, family home, livery hall or hired venue. Vanda's Kitchen prepares wake catering daily from our Carter Lane kitchen near St Paul's Cathedral, with full allergen labelling and halal-certified options as standard.
A wake brings every part of someone's life into one room. We cook so that everyone can eat from the same table — nut-free, halal, vegan, gluten-free — without anyone having to ask, or stand back from it.
100% Nut-Free Kitchen
Gluten-Free Throughout
Certified Halal
Selfridges Food Hall
★★★★★
"Robert and his team helped me out with a last minute large sandwich order for a wake after my supplier let me down last minute. The sandwiches were fresh and very tasty and delivered exactly on time."
— Verified review on Trustpilot
How quickly can you cater a wake?
We accept short-notice wake orders, typically within 48 to 72 hours, depending on order size and our kitchen schedule. For wakes following a same-day funeral service, calling the kitchen directly is the fastest route.
For larger wakes (60+ guests) we ask for at least four working days' notice where possible — but supplier let-downs and last-minute changes happen, and we do our best to help when they do. The Trustpilot review above describes exactly that situation. We handle it without a fuss when we can.
Where do you deliver wake catering?
We deliver across the City of London, the Square Mile and central London — from the EC, WC, SE1 and W1 postcodes around St Paul's out to Hammersmith, Fulham, Chelsea, Kilburn, Stoke Newington and Peckham. Typical wake delivery destinations include:
- Parish halls and church halls of the City churches (St Bartholomew the Great, St Mary-le-Bow, St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, St Mary Moorfields and others)
- Livery halls and private function rooms
- Pubs with private function rooms used as wake venues
- Family homes — including Friday and Saturday evening deliveries
- Hired venues following a service at a City crematorium
We don't typically deliver inside crematorium chapels — most don't have catering facilities, and the wake itself usually takes place at a separate venue afterwards. We deliver to whatever venue you've chosen for the gathering.
What's typically included in a wake order?
Most City of London wakes order one of three formats. All three arrive ready to set out, with disposable plates and napkins included. Reusable platters are collected the following day at no extra cost.
Sandwich Platters with Sides
A traditional, cost-effective option for 20–100 guests. A mix of sandwich fillings plus crisps, fruit and small savoury bites. Easy to set out, easy for guests to eat standing up.
Cold Buffet with Hot Drinks
A more substantial option — quiches, salads, savoury tarts, charcuterie, fresh bread — alongside tea and coffee service. Suits a longer wake or a larger group.
Afternoon Tea
Finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, small cakes and savoury pastries. Sits well with the tone of a wake when the family wants something gentle rather than a full buffet.
Everyone eats from the same table
A wake gathers every part of someone's life into one room — family, colleagues, old friends, people of faith and people of none, people who knew them at twenty and people who knew them last year. They arrive grieving. Not one of them should have to explain their allergy to a stranger over a buffet table, or stand back from it and eat nothing.
So we cook so that nobody has to ask. Our kitchen is 100% nut-free at the structural level — no nuts are present anywhere in it, so cross-contamination is not a risk. We hold halal certification through the Halal Friendly List, which means guests observing halal eat from the same platters as everybody else, rather than being handed a separate box. Vegan and vegetarian food sits on the same table too, labelled to Natasha's Law so people can read for themselves instead of asking.
Gluten-free runs right through our menu — built that way, not adapted on request.
Yes — that includes the coeliac mourner
Our kitchen is dedicated nut-free — no nuts have ever entered it, which is why families with a severe nut allergy in the room come to us. Gluten gets the same seriousness: a separate gluten-free fryer, separate gluten-free freezers, and gluten-free food built to gluten-free recipes rather than adapted from something else. Gluten-free runs right through the menu rather than being a token option or two. Nobody has to come and ask us whether it is safe on the worst day of their year — it just is.
What every wake order includes
- 100% nut-free kitchen — no cross-contamination risk
- Certified halal through Halal Friendly List
- Gluten-free throughout — built in, not adapted
- Vegan and vegetarian on the same table, not a separate box
- Natasha's Law allergen labelling on every item
- Disposable plates, napkins and cutlery included
- Reusable platters collected next day, no charge
What does wake catering cost?
Accessible, not expensive
Halal and gluten-free catering is often assumed to be premium-priced. We've structured our kitchen to keep platter pricing accessible for everyday catering — the same Selfridges Food Hall quality applies whether you spend £150 or £1,500.
Sandwich and bagel platters from the shop work for most wakes and can be ordered directly online. For bespoke cold buffets, afternoon tea service, or wakes with complex dietary mixes, we send a written quote with the menu and total cost before you confirm — no hidden charges.
For families managing the cost of a funeral alongside everything else, we're happy to talk through a smaller or larger format to fit a budget. A short call or WhatsApp message is the quickest way to a workable quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do you accept last-minute wake orders?
Yes. We accept short-notice wake orders where our kitchen schedule allows — usually within 48 to 72 hours. For same-day or next-day requests, please WhatsApp the kitchen rather than email.
Do you cater wakes at home?
Yes. We deliver to family homes across central London, including Friday and Saturday evenings. We set up the platters and collect the reusable items the following day at no extra cost.
Do you offer halal options for mixed-faith mourners?
Yes. Our entire kitchen is halal-certified through the Halal Friendly List. Every item we serve is suitable for guests observing halal, with no special ordering required.
Are gluten-free and nut-free options included as standard?
Yes. Our kitchen is 100% nut-free at the structural level. Gluten-free runs right through our menu, with all items clearly labelled. There is no extra charge for accommodating dietary requirements. Coeliac mourners can eat: we run a separate gluten-free fryer and separate gluten-free freezers, and our gluten-free food is built to gluten-free recipes rather than adapted.
Do you provide plates, napkins and cutlery?
Yes. Disposable plates, napkins and cutlery are included in every wake order. Reusable platters are collected the following day at no extra cost.
Can you deliver to a church hall after the funeral service?
Yes. We regularly deliver to parish and church halls across the City of London, including the halls of the Square Mile churches. Tell us the venue address and the time you'd like the food set out and we'll handle the rest.
How do I order?
For sandwich and bagel platters, order directly from our shop. For bespoke wake catering, WhatsApp the kitchen or email orders@vandaskitchen.co.uk with the date, venue, approximate guest numbers and any dietary requirements. We send a written quote within the same working day.
Ready to order, or need to talk it through?
Sandwich and bagel platters can be ordered straight from the shop. For bespoke catering, last-minute orders, or anything you'd like to talk through first — WhatsApp the kitchen.