Memoria Funerals

Memoria Funerals, funeral plans and crematoria in the UK

Memoria Funerals is a trading name of Memoria Funeral Plans Limited, part of The Memoria Group, which presents itself as one of the largest funeral and cremation services groups in the UK. The company states that it serves more than 20,000 families each year and operates with its own funeral directing teams, refrigerated mortuary facilities and crematoria across England, Scotland and Wales.

Its activity is divided into two areas: the advance purchase of prepaid funeral plans and the arrangement of funerals once a death has occurred. The sale of prepaid plans is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with firm reference number 965287; arranging a funeral without a plan in place falls outside that regulation, as the company itself points out.

Prepaid funeral plans

The prepaid plan range is structured into three options, designed to fix the price in advance and spare the family the administration and future price increases:

• Direct Cremation Plan: direct cremation, with no service or attendees. It includes collection, care of the deceased, cremation and return or scattering of the ashes. The website indicated a price from £1,195, with no hidden costs, and optional extras such as hand delivery of the ashes.
• Personal Plan: a funeral with attendance, from £2,045, with a short morning ceremony at the crematorium for a maximum of 25 people.
• Celebration of Life Plan: a more flexible option, from £2,895, with a longer service and no limit on guests.

The two attended plans include funeral directing fees, collection and care of the deceased, cremation costs and a quality wooden coffin; a supplement applies if a special-sized coffin is required. Paid additional services include the hearse, the limousine and an officiant to lead the ceremony.

Payment methods and financing

The company offers payment in full or in monthly instalments. Promotional material quoted family protection from £31.65 per month, calculated on a Direct Cremation Plan financed over five years, with a total outlay of £1,962.35 including a first payment of £95. The company notes that its team can explain the different options with no obligation.

Bereavement support and funeral arrangements

For cases where the death has already occurred, Memoria Funerals offers a direct contact channel to report the death of a plan holder or to request help with arrangements. The company describes the process as a step-by-step guide provided by an experienced member of the team, and backs this support with the so-called Memoria Care Promise, which assigns each family a dedicated consultant from the first call to the final farewell.

Own crematoria and environmental standards

The group owns and operates its own crematoria in England, Scotland and Wales. Memoria North Oxfordshire and Memoria Faversham and Mid Kent hold the Greener Globe Trusted Crematorium Platinum Award, the highest level of accreditation for environmental sustainability according to the company. The company presents itself as the first funeral provider in the UK to install an electric cremator and to implement a plan to reduce mercury levels, and states that 21% of its crematoria now operate with electric cremators, more than any other provider. The urns it supplies as part of its funeral offering are fully biodegradable and its carbon footprint is reviewed annually.

Cremations take place at the group's crematoria or at selected partner crematoria; unless there is a prepaid plan, an additional charge may apply if the crematorium does not belong to Memoria. In the case of direct cremation, the crematorium is chosen by the company. After cremation, the ashes can be returned in a simple container, delivered by hand or scattered in the crematorium's gardens of remembrance.

Awards and editorial coverage

The website notes that Memoria Funerals appears in MoneySavingExpert's prepaid funeral plan guide, where it is identified as one of the leading providers for direct cremations and is credited with the cheapest direct cremation plan alongside another operator. Over50choices rates it as the best prepaid direct cremation plan. The company also presents itself as one of the UK's best value funeral providers.

Corporate and regulatory information

Memoria Funerals is a trading name of Memoria Funeral Plans Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with reference number 965287, and registered in England and Wales with company number 10119791. Its registered office is stated as Units 1 & 2 Willows Gate, Stoke Lyne Road, Stratton Audley, OX27 9AU. It holds ICO number ZA201936.