The Halton Residents Funeral
A dignified funeral for a fixed £2,498.43 for anyone who lives in Halton. It includes the cremation fee at Widnes Crematorium and a Halton Registrar celebrant.
A fixed price, with nothing hidden
The Halton Residents Funeral was created by Halton Borough Council so that families in the borough can arrange a dignified funeral without worrying about the cost. Houghtons provides it from our Widnes branch at 2 Frederick Street.
The price is a fixed £2,498.43. It includes the cremation fee at Widnes Crematorium and a Halton Registrar celebrant. For a cremation, that means the two things families most often ask about are already covered.
What is included
- Collection and care: Collection of the person who has died within 25 miles, and careful dressing. A collection outside office hours is an additional £295.
- Viewing: A viewing in an open coffin at our chapel of rest, arranged during office hours.
- An oak veneered coffin: A coffin with handles and an engraved nameplate. The coffin included is a standard stocked coffin, with a maximum internal size of 6' 2'' x 22'' x 12''. Larger coffins to accommodate your loved one carry an excess charge.
- Our professional care: All the arrangements, and all the staff and facilities needed for the funeral to go ahead with dignity.
- Hearse and limousine: A hearse from our funeral home to the service, with one following limousine for six people.
- A 30 minute service: Led by a Halton Registrar celebrant at Widnes Crematorium chapel, followed by the cremation. The cremation fee is included.
Our funeral vehicles
Our Jaguar hearse and limousines.
Our Jaguar hearse and limousines.
Our local partnership
Working together to provide the Halton Residents’ Funeral.
An earlier moment in our partnership.
A Halton Registrar celebrant is included
A celebrant leads the service and speaks about the person who has died. With the Halton Residents Funeral, a Halton Registrar celebrant is included in the price, so you do not need to arrange or pay for one separately.
Ministers' fees are different. If you would like a minister, any fee is paid to them separately, and we will tell you what it is.
How the cost compares
Many families ask how our fixed price compares with other funeral directors. We have set out the figures below from published information so you can see them side by side. Packages are never exactly alike, so please read the notes under the table.
| What you pay | Halton Residents Funeral, Houghtons | Frank Dooley & Son, attended cremation funeral | Duggans, attended cremation funeral | Rigby's of Runcorn, attended cremation funeral | Mears & Jackson, attended cremation funeral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral director's charges | Included | £3,040.00 | £2,695.00 | £2,450.00 | £2,450.00 |
| Cremation fee at Widnes Crematorium | Included | Not included + £990.97 | Not included + £990.97 | Not included + £990.97 | Not included + £990.97 |
| Halton Registrar celebrant | Included | Not included + £244 | Not included + £244 | Not included + £244 | Not included + £244 |
| Limousine | Included, for six people | Not included. + £295 | Not included. Fee not stated in their price list + £295 | Not included. + £300 | Not included. + £345 |
| Total to expect | £2,498.43 | £4570 | £4225 | £3985 | £4030 |
| — | Choose the Halton Residents Funeral and save £2071 | Choose the Halton Residents Funeral and save £1726 | Choose the Halton Residents Funeral and save £1486 | Choose the Halton Residents Funeral and save £1531 |
Where the figures come from
The adult cremation fee at Widnes Crematorium is £990.97 from 1 April 2026, as published by Halton Borough Council. We include it in our price.
Houghtons is an independent, family-run funeral director.
The minister's fee of £244 added to each of the other firms is based on the current Church of England parochial fees.
Frank Dooley & Son's figures come from their standardised price list, revised 10 August 2026. Frank Dooley & Son is part of Funeral Partners, which is owned by the private equity firm Montagu. Their attended funeral charge of £3,040 covers the legal paperwork, collection within 15 miles, care before the funeral, a wood effect veneer coffin, a viewing and a hearse to the crematorium. The cremation fee is not included, so we have added the Widnes Crematorium fee of £990.97, although they give a typical local range of £926 to £1,295. There are no doctors' fees to pay for a cremation, because they are no longer charged, and a funeral officiant is priced on request.
The Duggans figures come from their standardised price list (reference 0926-SPL-0097), issued by Dignity Funerals Ltd. Their attended funeral charge of £2,695 covers the legal paperwork, collection within 15 miles, care before the funeral, a wood effect veneer coffin, a viewing and a hearse to the crematorium. The cremation fee is not included, so we have added the Widnes Crematorium fee of £990.97, although they give a typical local range of £815 to £1,080. A funeral officiant is priced on request.
Rigby's of Runcorn's figures come from their standardised price list (reference 406650 SPPB3 A4 08_2026). Their attended funeral charge of £2,450 covers the legal paperwork, collection within 15 miles, care before the funeral, a chipboard coffin wrapped in foil wood effect paper, a viewing and a hearse to the crematorium. The cremation fee is not included, so we have added the Widnes Crematorium fee of £990.97, although they give a typical local range of £926 to £1,149. They state that doctors' fees are no longer chargeable from 9 September 2024, and a funeral officiant is priced on request.
Mears & Jackson's figures come from their standardised price list. Their attended funeral charge of £2,450 covers the legal paperwork, collection within 15 miles, care before the funeral, an oak wood-effect veneer coffin, a viewing and a hearse to the crematorium. The cremation fee is not included, so we have added the Widnes Crematorium fee of £990.97, although they give a typical local figure of £810. There are no doctors' fees to pay for a cremation, because they are no longer charged, and a funeral officiant is priced on request.
How to arrange it
Please call our Widnes branch on 0151 345 6726, day or night. Let us know where in Halton your loved one lived, and we will explain each step and arrange everything for you. If you would like to talk it through first, you are very welcome to visit us at 2 Frederick Street, Widnes WA8 6PG.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Halton Residents Funeral?
It is a fixed £2,498.43. This includes the cremation fee at Widnes Crematorium and a Halton Registrar celebrant, so there is no separate fee to find for either.
Who can have a Halton Residents Funeral?
Anyone who lives in the Borough of Halton, including Widnes and Runcorn. It can be bought at the time of need, and it does not depend on your income.
Is a celebrant included?
Yes. The funeral includes a Halton Registrar celebrant, who leads a 30 minute service at Widnes Crematorium chapel.
What would cost extra?
A second or third limousine, extra pall bearers and flowers cost extra, and we will tell you the price before you decide. Please ask us for the details.