Funeral costs
Each funeral is unique and individual, and therefore funeral costs will vary. We offer a fair and competitive pricing structure, so that our clients have the widest choice available to suit their budgets and requirements.
We offer plenty of options, from a basic, simple funeral to the most elaborate ceremony. We provide an itemised estimate prior to the funeral, so that all costs are fully explained. We will always endeavour to price match.
How funeral costs work
There are two separate components which make up the cost of a funeral. First, the Funeral Director’s professional charges, and second, the third-party fees (also known as disbursements). Third-party fees are paid on your behalf, to professionals such as doctors, clergy and celebrants, and to the cemetery, crematorium, church, or other place of worship. These fees are not included in our packages, except in the case of direct cremations (see below).
To assist you in making decisions when arranging your family member’s, or your friend’s, funeral, we’ve created a range of packages which are explained below.
- Traditional funerals
from £3,880.00 – £5,120.00
Most people opt for what we call a traditional funeral. This doesn’t mean its old fashioned, but it does include many of the elements we would traditionally expect to see in a funeral. Traditional funeral packages range from Bronze to Platinum, largely determined by your choice of coffin.
Traditional funeral packages include meticulous, respectful, and dignified care of the deceased, from the moment our first response team collects them, until they are safely laid to rest, or their cremated remains are returned to you. Care and preparation of the deceased includes embalming, which we normally recommend. Our Chapels of Rest are available to allow you to spend time with your loved one in advance of the funeral.
Each package includes all of our professional services as funeral directors; our expertise, advice, support, and guidance. We will make all your arrangements, deal with documentation, liaise with all the third parties involved, and administer any charitable donations. (Third-party fees can range from £1200 and £1400 for doctors, celebrants, crematorium, cemetery, etc.). We will guide you through every detail and decision.
We will give you the widest possible choice of time and date for the funeral at your chosen venue or venues.
On the day of the funeral, we will provide a hearse, bearers, and funeral conductor who make sure that everything goes according to your plan, from start to finish.
In addition to our funeral packages, we can help after the funeral with memorials and keepsakes. You might find it helpful to read our ‘After the funeral’ page.
- Bespoke funerals
Individually priced
A bespoke funeral allows you to add or remove anything from the traditional funeral packages described above. Each element will be priced and quoted for individually, to make up your unique, tailored package.
Bespoke funerals are often chosen when families or friends wish to express something truly individual about the deceased and may involve unusual forms of transport, out of the ordinary venues, a unique casket, unlimited access to the Chapel of Rest, live musical tributes, or anything out of the ordinary which reflects a culture, tradition, career, hobby or interest.
Whatever you would like, we will do our utmost to make it happen.
- CMA/basic funeral
from £2,445.00
As a professional funeral director, we are required to publish costs for our basic funeral package which is known as the CMA/Basic Funeral. This includes our professional services, a suitable coffin, and provision of a suitable vehicle direct to a local crematorium or cemetery. Please click here for more information.
The CMA/Basic funeral is delivered with our usual high-quality professional service, care and attention, but contains fewer elements than our Traditional Packages. There is also less flexibility in regard to distances, use of facilities, choice of time and date, and the number of operatives on the day of the funeral. You can add elements to the CMA/Basic package, but you may find that our Traditional Funerals represent better overall value.
- Direct Cremation / Unattended funeral
from £2,050.00
Direct cremations take place without any family and friends in attendance or an accompanying chapel service. They can save money and fuss, allowing those who grieve an opportunity to arrange an event to celebrate their loved one at a time most suitable to them.
Arranging a direct cremation with a local family funeral director means that compassion and dignity are of primary importance, and that your loved one is treated as an individual throughout the process. Our team of trained professionals will always treat your loved one with the same respect and care as they do for every funeral we arrange. We keep them safely in our own facility until the cremation can be conducted, as soon as possible, at one of the local crematoria which we regularly use. After the cremation, their cremated remains will be returned to the appropriate branch for collection, where our team are always happy to offer advice and guidance with urns, keepsakes, and memorials, among other things.
Direct cremation is a cheaper alternative to a traditional funeral and is also available as part of a pre-paid funeral plan. Please click here for more information about direct cremation.
Payment terms
Our payment terms require third-party fees (disbursements) to be paid in advance of the funeral, with the balance invoiced approximately 7 days after the funeral date. Payment can be made by cheque, credit or debit card. Funerals are VAT exempt.
As a family business, we understand that it can sometimes be difficult to afford a funeral, and we are always sympathetic to the needs of our clients. In certain circumstances, help towards funeral expenses may be claimed from the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP). We have application forms readily available and our funeral arrangers can give you help and guidance in making a claim. For further information click here to visit the DWP website.
