To want a dry wake for my sister?

[Welshyma]

My sister passed away 2 weeks ago. Her funeral is in 3 weeks and we haven’t organised her wake yet as we can’t find a venue without a bar serving alcohol.
Some of the people attending are recovering alcoholics and us close family don’t want to see people drinking at her wake.
We can’t find any caterers who would cater tea, coffee and soft drinks or any venue without a bar. Any ideas?

I’m sorry for your loss. Have you tried church halls?

I'm sorry for your loss

The lovely tea rooms at the end of my road often close to the public as they are holding a private wake. That might work for you too.

Have it at home, and just don't serve alcohol?
Or try a Friends Meeting House - there is one in most cities.

Just have it at home. Alternatively, a church or village hall or a cafe.

A Methodist church hall could also be an option as they have a principle of moderation in regard to alcohol.

Coffee shop with an area that can be marked off. Or a separate room.

We had afternoon tea in a hotel for a relative’s funeral, we booked out their function room and had unlimited tea and coffee along with juice and sandwiches, cakes and scones. There was a bar but it was across the foyer in another room and quite pricey so only a couple of people bought a drink.

Village or church hall with an outside buffet caterer.

Are there any tea rooms nearby? Look for unlicensed dry venues nearby. Failing that, a hall or someone’s home.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I would suggest a village/church hall as generally, they don't have bars or if they do, they don't have to be open.

Or you could try a larger cafe?

Or someone's home depending on numbers?

Agree village hall with external caterers.

When my FIL died, we had the wake in the garden with no booze - just tea and soft drinks. Obv the time of year is key, but a village hall would be perfect.

I was going to suggest this. We have a Methodist church hall that gets used a lot for children's parties and you have to sign a contract confirming no alcohol will be served.

They will have tea and coffee making facilities and you could get a load of catering from M&S or similar.

Hire a village hall?
It's what I did for my 'dry' wedding reception.

Salvation Army hall. They’re a greedy lot for cash, but it will be dry.

FIL’s wake was in the church hall attached to church where the funeral was held. Catered externally and there was wine available, but could easily have just been teas and coffees and soft drinks.

ETA: sorry, didn’t see your part about not finding anyone to cater specifically soft drinks. Maybe you could get someone to do the food and just nominate a friend/ relative to be in charge of tea/ coffee using the church hall facilities.

I’d ask a coffee shop because they have no alcohol license in the first place.

You could just also state that as a family it will be a dry wake and as such people are not to buy alcohol per the family's request.

I am sorry for your loss, OP. I think a church hall or community centre is your best bet unless you want to host it at home. You could also look for art galleries, libraries, museums, and civic buildings. They may have space to rent.

I've just been to a funeral where the wake was in the church hall, a caterer brought sandwiches and tea and coffee making stuff, nice cakes etc and it was fine . Or you could book a bit of a restaurant maybe? One of the crematoria near me has it's own venue for a wake which is a good idea if you don't want a bar.

How about a school hall?

Methodist church hall as already suggested. Alcohol isn't allowed but there will be a tea urn. Sorry to hear about your loss and hope you get somewhere suitable.

I have been to two funeral receptions recently in our church hall. The first had the usual caterers' food with tea and coffee, and the family provided wine. The second was similar without the wine - it was teatime, with cakes, biscuits and cups of tea and coffee.

I would just book a venue without a bar ,a village hall type place sounds idesl
Having recently been to my mum snd uncles funeral there were bars at both venues but i dont think people were intersred in having more than a couple of drinks but fair enough if you dont want any alcohol.

Book a normal restaurant or bar and tell them you don't want alcohol served.