chestnut lodge pet crematorium

What chestnut lodge pet crematorium does

Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery is a UK sole-trader business, owned by Stephen Mayles, that provides end-of-life pet services from a single site in ancient woodland at Furnace Farm Road, Felbridge, East Grinstead, on the Surrey/Sussex border. Founded in 1969 as Birchacre Cattery with a pet cemetery, the business added a small crematorium around 1974; Stephen and Susanna Mayles took over in 1986 and built it into a focused pet cremation and burial operation, having since divested the cattery lines (Quarantine in 2001 and Sylvester's in 2018). Its service set covers individual cremation (£142–£400), communal cremation (£50–£115) with ashes interred in the on-site memorial area, and cemetery burial (£480–£1,025), supported by a keepsakes range (urns, caskets, paw prints, jewellery, glass memorials) and attended or scheduled cremations where owners can witness the process.

The core technology stack is physical rather than digital: a dedicated cremation chamber cleaned between every use, a cremulator dismantled and brushed after each cremation to avoid cross-contamination, a 10-metre mortuary room held at 3–5°C with individual shelf storage, and continuous identification paperwork travelling with each pet from collection through to ashes handover, with ashes weighed to match the correct owner. Chestnut Lodge was the first operator in the region to be independently inspected and approved by the Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria (APPCC), of which it is a founder member; it also holds Trading Standards Buy With Confidence approval, APHA crematorium (42/322/8002/ABP/INC) and cemetery (U1204207) registrations, and an Environment Agency waste carrier licence (CBDL557943). The website uses Stripe for payment processing but there is no app, no API, and no AI/ML components.

The business model is direct-to-consumer with a parallel veterinary referral channel. Individual pet owners contact Chestnut Lodge directly by phone or email — the company actively advises bypassing vet middlemen — while a curated referral network of at least 14 veterinary practices across Sussex, Surrey, South London and Kent and six home-euthanasia partners (Vets2Home, Mobile Vet Services, Edgewater, Sussex Home Vets, Coming Home, Noah's Angels) generates a secondary flow. Revenue is transactional and one-off per cremation or burial, with no subscription or recurring ARR; pricing varies by pet weight and presentation option, with add-on revenue from keepsakes (Ashes Into Glass and Eternity Crystal items ordered through Chestnut Lodge receive a 10% discount) and a free pre-registration programme offering £10 off direct cremation fees. Marketing is conducted without apparent paid advertising, relying on word-of-mouth, 593 Google/Facebook reviews, an extensive educational website and blog, and the proprietor's leadership role within the APPCC.

Name

chestnut lodge pet crematorium

Legal name

Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery

Website

https://clpets.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery is a UK sole-trader business in East Grinstead, West Sussex, providing individual and communal pet cremation, woodland burial, attended services and memorial keepsakes to pet owners across the South East of England, supplemented by a curated network of veterinary and home-euthanasia referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

East Grinstead

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Individual Pet Cremation Services: One-time cremation service where each pet is cremated individually and ashes are returned to the owner in their choice of urn, casket, or container. Price varies by pet weight and presentation option selected. Additional charges for attended/scheduled appointments.
2. Communal Pet Cremation Services: Dignified cremation where multiple pets are placed side by side; ashes are not returned but placed in a memorial area in the pet cemetery. Price varies by pet weight.
3. Pet Cemetery Burial Services: Burial in a designated pet cemetery in ancient woodland. Options include formal burial (with coffin, headstone/plaque) and green burial (shroud, nameplate and shrub). Annual cemetery maintenance fee applies.
4. Keepsakes, Urns and Memorial Items: A wide range of urns, caskets, paw print memorials, cremation jewellery (via Silvertips and Ashes Into Glass), and glass memorials. Ashes into Glass and Eternity Crystal items ordered through Chestnut Lodge receive a 10% discount.
5. Registration and Pre-planning Services: Free pre-registration service with no obligation. Registered clients receive a registration number and a £10 discount on cremation fees when arranged directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery provides individual pet cremation (each pet cremated alone with ashes returned), communal pet cremation (pets cremated side by side with ashes placed in a cemetery memorial area), and burial services in an ancient woodland pet cemetery established in 1969. The business operates as a sole trader firm owned by Stephen Mayles, serving pet owners across South East England, Sussex, Surrey, South London, and Kent through direct contact and veterinary practice referrals.

Product overview

Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery offers a comprehensive suite of pet bereavement services centred around two core offerings: Individual Pet Cremation (where each pet is cremated alone with ashes returned to the owner) and Communal Pet Cremation (where pets are cremated side by side with ashes placed in the cemetery memorial area). Supporting these core cremation services is a Pet Cemetery providing formal and green burial options, plus a range of memorial add-ons including keepsakes, jewellery, paw prints, fur cuttings, and glass memorials created with ashes or fur. Additional services include home euthanasia coordination through partner veterinarians, pet collection from homes or vets, private reception rooms for farewell, and attended cremation options where owners witness the process. The company operates as a sole trader business owned by Stephen Mayles, established in 1969 in Felbridge, West Sussex.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Pet Cremation Service A cremation service where each pet is cremated alone in an enclosed chamber with full identification paperwork tracked throughout. Ashes are collected and returned to the owner in their choice of urn, casket, or container, or buried in the pet cemetery. Owners may attend the cremation and witness the process. Prices range from £142 to £400 depending on pet weight and presentation option.
• Communal Pet Cremation Service A dignified cremation service where multiple pets are cremated side by side in the chamber. Ashes are not returned to owners but are placed in a grave at Chestnut Lodge Pet Cemetery in a memorial area. Prices range from £50 to £115 depending on pet weight.
• Pet Cemetery Burial Service Burial options in an ancient woodland setting including formal burial with coffin, headstone, plaque, or grave surround, and green burial with shroud and nameplate. Ashes can also be buried or scattered within the grounds. Prices range from £480 to £1,025 depending on pet weight. An annual cemetery maintenance fee applies.
• Cremation Keepsakes and Jewellery Memorial items including cremation jewellery made with ashes or fur, Silver paw print jewellery through Silvertips, Ashes Into Glass memorials, and Eternity Crystal products (vases, paperweights, bowls). Ashes into Glass and Eternity Crystal items ordered through Chestnut Lodge receive a 10% discount.
• Paw Prints, Fur Cuttings and Engraving Mementos including paper paw prints, clay paw impressions, fur cuttings (free of charge), and engraving services on urns, caskets, and memorial items. Paper or clay paw prints are £35 each.
• Glass Memorials Memorial items created with a pet's paw print or ashes, including glass ornaments and jewellery made with cremated remains.
• Attended Cremation Service Scheduled cremation appointments where owners can witness the entire cremation process, including viewing the clean chamber before cremation begins and seeing ashes being swept out. Includes quiet time with the pet in the reception area. Carries an additional £70 charge on top of cremation fees.
• Home Euthanasia Coordination Service Chestnut Lodge coordinates with mobile and home euthanasia veterinarians (Vets2Home, Mobile Vet Services, Edgewater Mobile Vets, Sussex Home Vets, Coming Home, Noah's Angels) to provide gentle, peaceful in-home euthanasia followed by cremation or burial arrangements.
• Pet Collection and Delivery Service Twice-weekly collection of pets from homes and veterinary surgeries across Sussex, Surrey, South London, and Kent for cremation or burial. Delivery of ashes is also handled directly by Chestnut Lodge.
• Pre-Registration Service Free pre-registration programme allowing pet owners to register in advance and receive a registration number and a £10 discount on cremation fees when arranged directly with Chestnut Lodge.

Quantifiable outcome

• A dedicated mortuary room maintained at 3–5 degrees Celsius with individual shelf storage ensures dignified, hygienic holding of pets before cremation.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vets2Home – Peaceful Pet GoodbyescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDr Suzen Gregersen and Dr Joaquin Perez Feliu provide 24-hour in-home end-of-life veterinary care, animal hospice, palliative medicine, and home euthanasia across the Sussex/Surrey area. They work with Chestnut Lodge to arrange cremation services for families after home euthanasia. Collection is made on a twice-weekly basis from their premises.
• Mobile Vet Services (Dr Annette Randall)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor24-hour mobile vet service operating in South London, North Kent, and parts of East Sussex on weekends. Dr Randall provides home euthanasia and brings pets directly to Chestnut Lodge afterwards.
• Edgewater Mobile Vets (Dr Laila)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent mobile vet clinic available in Surrey, Sussex & Kent. Provides peaceful home euthanasia and brings pets directly to Chestnut Lodge. Available Saturday–Monday and Bank Holidays, weekdays by prior arrangement.
• Sussex Home VetsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides palliative care appointments and end-of-life guidance for pets in Sussex. Helps families through the decision-making process and coordinates cremation arrangements with Chestnut Lodge.
• Coming HomeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides high-quality end-of-life care for pets in the home environment across Sussex, Surrey and Kent borders, then arranges cremation with Chestnut Lodge.
• Noah's Angels (Alexandra Gravett)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides a respectful and dignified collection service from homes or veterinary surgeries in Sussex and Surrey, 7 days a week. Will work with home euthanasia vets to ensure pets receive the finest service at Chestnut Lodge and can make all funeral arrangements including delivery of ashes to homes.
• Yew Tree Veterinary Surgery, CranleighminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVeterinary practice on Horsham Road, Cranleigh, that supports pets and families with care and compassion and arranges cremation with Chestnut Lodge.
• Mark Nelson Veterinary SurgeryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwo locations: 81 Woodville Road, Thornton Heath; and The Old Cornstore, London Road, Westerham. Both arrange cremation services with Chestnut Lodge. The Thornton Heath practice notes clients should specify they wish to use Chestnut Lodge as they also have arrangements with another organisation.
• Elmfield Vets, South CroydonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor43 Elmfield Way, South Croydon. Veterinary practice that arranges cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• All Creatures Veterinary Surgery, LondonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor85 Lavender Hill, London. Veterinary practice that arranges cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• Small World Veterinary Surgery, LiphookminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor32 Station Road, Liphook. Veterinary practice that arranges cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• Oathall Veterinary Group, Haywards HeathminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor30 Oathall Road, Haywards Heath. Veterinary practice that arranges cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• The Mewes VetsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple locations: 4 Haywards Road, Haywards Heath; 16 Marine Drive, Rottingdean, BN2 7HQ; and 44 Lincoln Avenue, Peacehaven, BN10 7JU. Veterinary practice that arranges cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• Coastway Veterinary GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple locations across Sussex: Freshfields Business Park, Kemp Town, Brighton; 120 High Street, Shoreham-By-Sea; 11-12 Carlton Terrace, Portslade; 74 Warren Road, Woodingdean; 378 South Coast Road, Telscombe; and 137-139 Malling Street, Lewes. Veterinary practices that arrange cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• Top Cat Veterinary Surgery, BrightonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor146 Mackie Avenue, Brighton. Veterinary practice that arranges cremation services with Chestnut Lodge.
• Association of Private Pet Cemeteries and Crematoria (APPCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChestnut Lodge is a founder member of the APPCC (est. 1993), the only organisation in Europe setting standards for pet cremation and burial. The APPCC provides an independent inspection scheme and consumer code that Chestnut Lodge adheres to. Stephen Mayles serves as Vice-Chairman of the APPCC.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dignity Pet Crematorium: Independent UK pet crematorium offering individual and communal cremation with collection services. Directly comparable in service model to Chestnut Lodge, with similar transparency and quality positioning.
• The Pet Crematorium: UK pet cremation provider offering individual cremation, attended services, urns and keepsakes. Operates a comparable service mix targeting pet owners seeking transparent, dignified end-of-life services.
• Eden Memorial Pet Crematorium: Independent UK pet crematorium offering individual cremation and memorial products with collection across multiple UK regions. Competes on similar value proposition of transparency and quality to Chestnut Lodge.
• CPC Cremation (Countrywide Pet Cremations): UK pet cremation company providing individual and communal cremation services to pet owners and veterinary practices across multiple regions. Directly comparable service offering and customer base.
• Precious Paws Pet Cremation: UK pet crematorium offering individual cremation, communal cremation, and memorial items with a similar service-led, transparency-focused positioning to Chestnut Lodge.

Broad incumbents

• Gateway Pet Memorial Services: Large North American-headquartered pet cremation and aftercare provider serving veterinary clinics with national logistics and infrastructure. Represents the scaled, multi-region model that Chestnut Lodge currently does not operate at.
• Pets at Home: Largest UK pet retailer, offering pet cremation and bereavement services as part of its broader pet services ecosystem including grooming, vet practices (Vets4Pets), and retail. Incumbent player with potential to expand pet cremation nationally.

Others

• Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service: UK pet charity offering a national pet bereavement support helpline and related end-of-life resources. Not a direct competitor, but a complementary, trust-building presence in the pet loss ecosystem that influences where owners ultimately choose cremation services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/petcrematorium
• Instagraminstagram.com/chestnutlodgepets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chestnut-lodge-pet-crematorium-and-cemetery

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about chestnut lodge pet crematorium