Can the funeral reception or celebration of life take place in the same venue?

Yes. The South Downs Suite can be arranged for a private service and then used for the gathering afterwards, helping families avoid another journey between the service and reception.

Does Tottington Manor provide accommodation for relatives attending a funeral?

Yes. Tottington Manor has 12 boutique bedrooms, allowing relatives and friends travelling into West Sussex to stay before or after the funeral, wake or celebration of life.

What catering is available for a funeral wake or celebration of life?

Catering can include a buffet, afternoon tea or private dining, with menus planned around the family and dietary requirements discussed in advance.

Can Tottington Manor work with our funeral director?

Yes. Tottington Manor's Events Team can coordinate practical timings and venue arrangements with the family's chosen funeral director, celebrant and crematorium.

Is there a Celebration of Life brochure with menus and venue information?

Yes. Tottington Manor provides a downloadable Celebration of Life brochure with venue spaces, example catering choices, drinks options and guest accommodation information.

How many guests can Tottington Manor accommodate for a celebration of life?

Tottington Manor has several spaces for different gathering sizes. The current Celebration of Life brochure lists the South Downs Suite for up to 180 guests, TERRA Restaurant and Bar for up to 60, TERRA Courtyard for up to 50, South Downs Decking for up to 45, the Small Downs Suite for up to 30, the Inglenook for up to 14 and Olive Lounge for up to 12.

Funeral Wake & Celebration of Life Venue

A Peaceful Celebration of Life Venue in the South Downs

When a family is arranging a funeral, memorial or celebration of life, having one calm place that can look after the practical details can make the day feel simpler.

Tottington Manor is an independent hotel and events venue near Henfield in West Sussex, at the foot of the South Downs. We host funeral wakes, celebrations of life and memorial receptions for families from Henfield, Steyning, Shoreham, Worthing, Brighton, Horsham and the surrounding area.

Our Events Team can help with the room, timings, catering, refreshments and accommodation, while coordinating with your chosen funeral director, celebrant and crematorium where needed. We do not arrange the funeral itself; our role is to provide the venue, hospitality and a respectful place for family and friends to come together.

We always recommend calling our Events Team on 01273 957 777 so we can understand what your family needs and make the arrangements as personal and straightforward as possible.

Ask Our Events Team to Contact You

Family and friends gathering in the gardens at Tottington Manor for a celebration of life

Tottington Manor gardens featured in the Celebration of Life brochure

Planning information

Download Our Celebration of Life Brochure

Our brochure brings together the venue spaces, example menus, drinks options and guest accommodation information in one place, making it easier to share the details with family while you consider what feels right.

You do not need to have everything decided before speaking to us. Our Events Team can talk through a private service, the gathering afterwards, food, bedrooms and timings with you.

View & Download Brochure Make an Enquiry

South Downs Suite arranged for a private funeral, memorial service or celebration of life at Tottington Manor

A Private Funeral or Memorial Service in the South Downs Suite

Families do not have to use Tottington Manor only for the gathering after a funeral. Where it suits the family's wishes, a private funeral or memorial service can also take place in our South Downs Suite.

The room can be arranged for a private service with family and friends and can support personal touches such as photographs, music, readings and visual tributes. After the service, the space can transition into the celebration of life or funeral reception, allowing guests to remain together rather than travelling on to another venue.

This can work particularly well for families planning a more personal farewell, a memorial service separate from a cremation or burial, or a service where relatives are travelling from different parts of the country.

Spaces for an Intimate Gathering or a Larger Celebration

Different families need different kinds of space. Some prefer a quiet room for close family; others need somewhere where a much wider circle of friends, colleagues and relatives can come together. We can help you choose the setting that works best for the service or reception.

South Downs Suite at Tottington Manor — South Downs Suite

Celebration of life gathering in Tottington Manor gardens — South Downs gardens

TERRA Courtyard at Tottington Manor — TERRA Courtyard

Inglenook private room at Tottington Manor — The Inglenook

South Downs Decking overlooking the hills at Tottington Manor — South Downs Decking

Room options

South Downs SuiteUp to 180 guests
TERRA Restaurant & BarUp to 60 guests
TERRA CourtyardUp to 50 guests
South Downs DeckingUp to 45 guests
Small Downs SuiteUp to 30 guests
The InglenookUp to 14 guests
Olive LoungeUp to 12 guests

Room availability and the most appropriate layout depend on the nature of the gathering and the date. The South Downs Suite is the room we recommend discussing with us for a private funeral or memorial service.

See the Rooms in the Brochure

The brochure includes photographs of the South Downs Suite, Small Downs Suite, decking, gardens and courtyard so family members can get a feel for the venue before arranging a viewing.

Open the Brochure

Funeral Reception Catering & Hospitality

South Downs Buffet

A more substantial buffet with a wider choice of hot and cold dishes, designed for relaxed larger gatherings.

Afternoon Tea

Finger sandwiches, savouries, scones, cakes and unlimited tea and coffee in a traditional afternoon tea style.

Light Tea

A simple combination of finger sandwiches, savouries and cakes, served buffet style for an informal gathering.

Light Buffet

A lighter savoury buffet with hot and cold choices, local cheese and charcuterie and vegetarian options.

Afternoon tea with Sussex sparkling wine for a celebration of life at Tottington Manor

Freshly Prepared by the TERRA Kitchen

Our Celebration of Life brochure sets out example menus and guide pricing, including buffet and afternoon tea options. We can also discuss dietary requirements, drinks, Sussex sparkling wine and private dining where a family would prefer a seated meal.

Because menus and pricing can develop over time, the downloadable brochure is the best place to see the current package detail.

View Current Brochure & Menus

Boutique guest bedroom at Tottington Manor for relatives attending a funeral in West Sussex

Overnight Accommodation for Visiting Family & Friends

Funerals often bring families together from a much wider area. Tottington Manor has 12 boutique hotel bedrooms, so relatives and close friends can stay on site before or after the funeral, private service or celebration of life.

Keeping accommodation, the gathering and — where appropriate — the private service in one place can reduce travel on an already difficult day. We can discuss practical arrangements such as luggage drop-off, room availability and breakfast with the family when planning the event.

Guests staying at Tottington Manor also have the reassurance of free on-site parking and a single venue team looking after their stay and the family gathering.

View Our Bedrooms

Working Alongside Local Funeral Directors & Crematoria

Families are always free to choose the funeral director and service arrangements that are right for them. Our Events Team is used to working alongside local funeral professionals and coordinating the practical venue timings around a funeral, cremation, burial or private memorial service.

Local organisations and services we work with or regularly coordinate around include:

Chalcraft Funeral Directors — independent, family-run funeral directors in Steyning.
Henfield Funeral Services — independent family-run funeral directors in Henfield.
HD Tribe Funeral Directors — independent funeral directors with offices across Worthing, Shoreham, Lancing and West Sussex.
Worthing Crematorium — located near Findon, north of Worthing.

We can work with your chosen funeral director even if they are not listed above.

Independent Funeral Venue Listing

Tottington Manor is also listed by Venues 4 Funerals as a funeral reception and wake venue in West Sussex, with on-site bedrooms, parking and catering.

View Tottington Manor on Venues 4 Funerals

Celebration of Life & Funeral Venue FAQs

Can we hold a private funeral or memorial service at Tottington Manor?

Yes. Families can discuss holding a private funeral or memorial service in the South Downs Suite, followed by a wake or celebration of life at Tottington Manor. We plan the room and timings individually and coordinate with your chosen funeral professionals where required.

Can the service and funeral reception take place in the same venue?

Yes. Where appropriate, the South Downs Suite can be arranged for the private service and then transition into the celebration of life or reception afterwards, reducing the need for guests to travel again.

Do you have accommodation for relatives travelling to the funeral?

Yes. Tottington Manor has 12 boutique bedrooms, allowing family and friends to stay before or after the funeral, memorial or celebration of life.

What food can you provide for a funeral wake?

We can provide funeral buffets, afternoon tea and private dining. Our Events Team will discuss the style of gathering, guest numbers and dietary requirements with you.

Can you work with our funeral director or celebrant?

Yes. We can coordinate practical timings and venue arrangements with your chosen funeral director, celebrant and crematorium. Tottington Manor provides the venue, hospitality, catering and accommodation rather than funeral-directing services.

Is Tottington Manor suitable after a service at Worthing Crematorium?

Yes. Families use Tottington Manor for funeral receptions and celebrations of life following services across West Sussex, including Worthing Crematorium. Our Events Team can help plan timings around the service.

Is there a brochure with venue spaces, menus and accommodation information?

Yes. Our Celebration of Life brochure brings together photographs of the venue, example catering choices, drinks options and information about our 12 bedrooms. You can download it and share it with other family members while considering the arrangements.

How many guests can Tottington Manor accommodate?

We have spaces for both intimate and larger gatherings. The current brochure lists Olive Lounge for up to 12 guests, the Inglenook up to 14, Small Downs Suite up to 30, South Downs Decking up to 45, TERRA Courtyard up to 50, TERRA Restaurant & Bar up to 60 and the South Downs Suite up to 180 guests. We will recommend the best room and layout once we understand the type of service or reception you are planning.

Take the Next Step When You Are Ready

You can read through the brochure first, or contact us straight away. You do not need to know guest numbers, menu choices or every detail before getting in touch - our Events Team can help you work through the options.

Download the Brochure Make an Enquiry

Or call 01273 957 777 to speak with the Events Team.