Funeral Wakes & Receptions in Emsworth

At Hollybank House, we provide a private, peaceful, and welcoming elegant setting for funeral wakes and memorial receptions in Emsworth / Havant. We are very close to the Oaks Crematorium in Havant. We understand how important it is to bring family and friends together after a funeral service, and our team is here to make everything as respectful and stress-free as possible.

We regularly support families from the local area of Emsworth, Bosham, Havant, Portsmouth and Hayling Island but we also understand that families travel quite a distance to hold a funeral service at the Oaks Crematorium and we are perfectly situated to save a return journey to other surrounding areas like Chichester, Petersfield, Waterlooville, Denmead, Purbrook and sometimes even further away.

We offer our home as a calm, private space to reflect, share memories and spend time together.

Whether you are planning a small, intimate wake or a larger reception, we can provide space for 10-120 people in the house, arranged to suit your needs or we can spread out into the garden for receptions up to 300 people.

Hollybank House is easily accessible for guests travelling and we are well positioned for gatherings following services at local churches and the nearby Oaks crematorium, making it a convenient choice for families across Hampshire and West Sussex.

Our team understands the sensitive nature of these occasions and will ensure everything is handled with care and discretion.

Wake Catering Options

We offer a range of in house and homemade catering options to suit your preferences, including:

  • Traditional funeral tea
  • Light buffet selections
  • Sandwiches and homemade cakes
  • Tea, coffee, soft drinks, wines, bubbles and beers as refreshments

We can happily accommodate dietary requirements (such as gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, nut intolerance) and can tailor catering to suit your guests.

A Supportive and Personal Service

We understand that arranging a wake can feel overwhelming. Our experienced team is here to help guide you through the process, offering a personal and compassionate approach at every stage. We happily work with all the local Funeral Directors but some of the more frequent ones can be found here. We are also proud supporters of St Wilfrid’s Hospice and The Rowans Hospice.

From your first enquiry through to the day itself, we will take care of the details so you can focus on being with family and friends.

Please don’t just take our word for it though. Have a look at our google reviews page.

We invite you to come and see for yourself the pleasant and comfortable atmosphere for such an occasion. Please call 01243 377866 or email info@hollybankhouse.com to arrange an appointment at a convenient time for you.

We are happy to work with your funeral directors and host both the service and wake here or you are welcome to come back, relax and enjoy the relaxing environment after a service nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I hold a funeral wake in Emsworth or near the Oaks Crematorium Havant?

Hollybank House is a peaceful and private venue on the north side of Emsworth, ideal for gathering with family and friends after a funeral service at the Oaks or in one of the local churches.

Do you provide catering for funeral wakes?

Yes, we offer a range of catering options including traditional funeral tea, finger buffets and refreshments, all tailored to your needs.

How many guests can you accommodate?

We can host both small and larger gatherings. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

Is there parking available?

Yes, we have hard standing on site free parking for about 150 cars.

Can I personalise the space?

Yes, we very much welcome photos in frames or albums or other memorabilia to place around the rooms. We can also offer support to display an unlimited number of digital photos. You are very welcome to bring flowers back from the service or we can arrange others for you. We can also create background music if you wish.

Can the guests walk around the grounds?

Absolutely. The 10 acre garden is a perfect space for guests to wander and contemplate whilst enjoying the views to Chichester Harbour.

I wanted to find a venue for my mum's wake and checked out several alternative offerings before finding Hollybank House. I called and arranged a visit; from the moment I met Ian and Roz, I knew Hollybank House was perfect! What a special place this is, Ian was very helpful and responsive in the planning, in fact nothing was too much trouble. On the day itself everything was excellent, the food, the drinks, the set-up were all first class. What made it even more special was that it felt like your home, in fact this is Ian and Roz’s home but they generously hand it over to their guests to enjoy. They personally organised all the events, did all the catering in-house and then looked after us superbly on the day. I highly recommend Hollybank to anyone looking for something more personal, be it a birthday party, private dinner, wake etc. My niece now wants to have her wedding there! Thank you both so much for giving mum a beautiful send off.

Trip Advisor

Hollybank House recently hosted a reception for around 55 people following my mother-in-law's funeral (a 5-minute drive from The Oaks Crematorium). The venue was perfect - a lovely 200-year old spacious house, with lots of character, set in 12 acres of beautiful, peaceful grounds. Ian was very helpful, courteous, efficient and flexible from our initial conversation onwards. The house and its hosts were perfect for our needs and created a homely, relaxed atmosphere. Our buffet, although simple and traditional, was delicious and of high quality, with discreet yet friendly attention from Ian, Roz and their family. I would highly recommend Hollybank House for any similar occasion.

Trip Advisor

We stayed here because our daughter-in-law's wake was being held here. Ian, the manager, could not have been more helpful throughout the two days we were there. There were probably 200 people at the wake and everything was managed beautifully. Guests were allowed to stay as long as they wanted. Because our DIL had been a Girl Guide, our son wanted to be able to have a campfire. There was a large mobile fire pit that served this purpose very well.

Trip Advisor

We would thoroughly recommend it as a marvellous venue for a wake (we had a number of children who had a wonderful time in the glorious grounds) or a very different B&B experience.

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