Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium and Pet Cemetery

After losing my beloved 17-year-old cat, Dizzee, I was absolutely heartbroken. He was far more than a pet — he was family, my constant companion, and my best friend for many years. His loss deeply affected not only me but my children, aged 22 and 15, who were devastated and found the experience incredibly difficult. At such a fragile time, I felt fiercely protective over what would happen to him and wanted complete certainty that he would be treated with the dignity and respect he deserved.

After an unsettling initial experience elsewhere, I searched for an independent crematorium and found Chestnut Lodge Pet Crematorium in East Grinstead. From the very first phone call, they were compassionate and accommodating, even inviting me to visit that same day so I could see everything before making any decisions — something that immediately reassured me.

When we arrived, we were welcomed by Stephen, the owner, who has worked there for around 40 years. He was professional, kind, and exceptionally knowledgeable, answering every question in detail without ever making us feel rushed or like we were asking too much. Stephen took considerable time to show us the entire facility: the private room where we could spend time saying goodbye, the selection room for urns and keepsakes, the cremation equipment, and the peaceful surrounding grounds. Everything was immaculate and thoughtfully maintained, which brought me a huge sense of relief.

What meant the most was their willingness to honour every request I made. I wanted to attend the cremation and witness the entire process from beginning to end so I could be certain Dizzee was handled with care and that the ashes returning home were truly his. They agreed without hesitation.

In the days beforehand, I contacted them several times with additional questions and personal requests. I asked if I could place photographs with him, if I could have some of his claws and whiskers, as well as his fur and paw prints — small, deeply personal tokens that would mean the world to me. Every request was met with patience, warmth, and understanding. Every question was answered compassionately and informatively.
Nothing ever felt like too much trouble.

On the day of the cremation, we were looked after by Stephen and Riann, who guided us gently through the entire process. My children and I were given private, unhurried time with Dizzee. He was laid out beautifully with small flowers beside his head, and the atmosphere was calm and deeply respectful. Every member of staff referred to him by his name at all times — never simply as “a pet" or "a cat".
That level of humanity meant more than I can express.

At my request, Riann carefully talked me through each stage as it happened so nothing came as a shock. I was able to witness everything — from the moment Dizzee was placed into the cremation chamber to the moment his ashes were carefully prepared and placed into his urn. Watching this brought me an unexpected sense of peace, removing any doubt and allowing me to know with certainty that he was treated with the utmost dignity throughout.

One detail that brought me enormous comfort was the absolute cleanliness and care shown throughout the process. The cremation equipment was spotless before he was placed inside, and afterwards I watched as the chamber was carefully attended to and every part of the process handled with precision and respect. Great care was taken to ensure that all of Dizzee’s ashes were gathered — nothing was rushed, nothing was overlooked, and nothing was lost. Seeing this with my own eyes removed any lingering worry and replaced it with complete reassurance.

Being able to give Dizzee a proper farewell helped all of us, especially my children. It comforted us to know we had done everything possible for him and allowed us to begin grieving with a sense of peace rather than uncertainty.

The care extended into every detail of the keepsakes. Each item was carefully labelled with his name. The fur they prepared was arranged in the natural pattern of his coat, showing remarkable tenderness and attention. His whiskers and claws were presented on labelled cards, even noting which paw each claw came from.

When I later opened the urn at home, I found they had placed a small flower on top so I wouldn’t be confronted immediately with the ashes — an incredibly thoughtful touch that demonstrated genuine understanding of grief.

Even the smallest gestures mattered. When I asked if I could take the flowers that had been placed beside him, they kindly said yes.

Thanks to Stephen, Riann, and the entire team at Chestnut Lodge, what could have been an overwhelmingly traumatic experience became something peaceful and meaningful. They cared for Dizzee with profound respect, and they cared for us with compassion at one of the hardest moments we have faced as a family.

I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you ever find yourself in the heartbreaking position of needing these services, you will struggle to find a place more professional, gentle, and respectful. They truly understand that our pets are family — and they treat them, and you, accordingly.

My beloved cat Poppy had an individual cremation here on Friday and she couldn’t have received more gentle and compassionate treatment. It was a great comfort to me at such a sad time. Such a quiet, peaceful surrounding.

Have always taken our beloved pets to Chestnut Lodge. They have always been caring and nice knowing it is a private family run business. Its always sad but knowing they will take care of our pets is comforting.