Independent funeral directors supporting Ratby families
Funeral Directors in Ratby
You do not need to know what to do next. Call Samantha and we will take care of everything.
Bay Tree Funerals supports families throughout Ratby, Groby, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Desford and the surrounding west Leicestershire communities from our funeral home and private Chapel of Rest in Blaby. Samantha will listen, explain the immediate next step and personally guide your family through the arrangements.
Available 24 hours a day • Personal guidance without pressurePersonal care followed by clear costs
First, let Samantha understand the person and what your family needs. Then every cost will be explained clearly.
Bay Tree’s attended funeral-director charges are published at £2,150. You will receive a written estimate separating Bay Tree’s work from crematorium, cemetery, church, minister, celebrant and other third-party charges.
Samantha Ward, Lady Funeral Director at Bay Tree Funerals
A familiar person beside you
Hello, I’m Samantha.
You can call me before you understand the paperwork, know whether the funeral will be a burial or cremation, or have spoken to St Philip & James’s, St Philip & St James Church, a local cemetery or crematorium. Tell me what has happened in your own words and I will explain the immediate next step.
I can coordinate bringing your loved one into our care, the church or crematorium, cemetery paperwork, minister or celebrant, hearse, music, service details and the personal wishes that matter to your family.
My job is to make a difficult time feel calmer, protect your family from having to chase different organisations and ensure your loved one is treated with dignity throughout.
- Immediate guidance following a death
- One familiar point of contact throughout
- Church, cemetery, crematorium and officiant liaison
- Clear written costs before confirmation
- Personal involvement through to the funeral day
Our location, explained honestly: Bay Tree serves Ratby from our funeral home and private Chapel of Rest at 7A Welford Road, Blaby. We do not claim a Ratby branch. Your loved one remains in our own care there, with Samantha and the same small family team.
Care without being passed between departments
One small family team taking responsibility for the details.
Once your loved one comes into Bay Tree’s care, they remain at our funeral home and private Chapel of Rest in Blaby. Samantha stays connected to the family’s wishes, chapel visits and funeral arrangements.
This matters when clothing, prayer, a private family visit, a meaningful route or a particular service detail is important. You can discuss it directly with the person leading the arrangements.
A clear funeral-price comparison for Ratby families
How Bay Tree compares with two large corporate funeral operators nearby
The figures below compare published headline attended funeral-director charges checked on 26 July 2026. Price is not the only consideration, but families deserve clear information before choosing who will care for their loved one. No local independent funeral director is named or criticised.
Bay Tree Funerals
Attended funeral-director charges
£2,150 Bay Tree’s published attended funeral-director charge £445 below Ginns & Gutteridge Leicester and £545 below Central Co-op- Professional arrangements and administration
- Collection within the stated conditions
- Care at Bay Tree before the funeral
- A suitable classic coffin
- A black motor hearse
- Personal guidance led by Samantha
Bay Tree funeral-director charges only. Crematorium, cemetery, church, minister, celebrant and other third-party charges are separate.
Ginns & Gutteridge Leicester
The Attended Funeral
£2,595 Published Leicester headline charge including its Basic Coffin- Large corporate funeral operator in Leicester city centre
- Published attended-funeral headline used for comparison
- Third-party costs remain separate
- Optional choices may alter the final total
- Ask where your loved one will be cared for
- Compare the complete written estimate
Price checked against the company’s published Leicester funeral-home information on 26 July 2026.
Central Co-op Glenfield
Attended funeral professional charge
£2,695 Official Central Co-op standardised attended-funeral charge- Glenfield funeral home at 12b Tournament Road
- Legal and administrative arrangements: £628
- Collection and transport into care: £285
- Care before the funeral: £597
- Wood-effect veneer coffin and viewing: £340
- Hearse or appropriate vehicle: £845
Central Co-op’s official standardised price list totals £2,695. Crematorium, cemetery, minister, celebrant and other third-party charges remain separate.
What these differences mean: the comparison covers headline funeral-director charges only. It does not guarantee that the final funeral invoice will be £445 or £545 lower. Packages are not assumed to be identical. Collection conditions, care arrangements, coffins, vehicles, optional services and third-party charges can differ. Always request and compare complete written estimates.
Funeral choices explained clearly
Funeral services for Ratby families
You do not need to decide on burial, cremation, church or a non-religious ceremony before calling. Samantha will listen first, explain the choices and help your family arrange a farewell that feels right.
Attended Funeral
Funeral-director charges £2,150A personal ceremony where family and friends can gather, with Samantha coordinating the coffin, hearse, officiant, music, photographs, tributes and practical details.
See the full price breakdown
Burial & Church Funerals
We can coordinate a funeral at St Philip & St James, Ratby Methodist Church or another chosen place of worship, followed by burial at an eligible churchyard or cemetery.
Explore burial services
Unattended Cremation
£1,495A simple and respectful cremation without a formal attended ceremony at the crematorium, with freedom to hold a separate memorial or family gathering.
Read the full detailsHas someone died in Ratby?
Whether the death occurred at home, in hospital, in a care home, at LOROS or unexpectedly, call Samantha. You do not need to work out the process before speaking to us.
Genuinely useful Ratby guidance
St Philip & St James, local burial choices, Gilroes and Glenfield registration
Ratby has its own parish church and Methodist church, but burial rights must be checked carefully. Groby Cemetery is reserved principally for Groby residents, so it should not be presented as an automatic burial option for Ratby families. Gilroes is often the clearest crematorium and new-grave choice. Bay Tree can coordinate the complete arrangements while your loved one remains in our care at our funeral home and private Chapel of Rest in Blaby.
St Philip & St James Church
St Philip & St James is Ratby’s Church of England parish church on Church Lane. The Grade II* listed building dates in part from around 1230 and remains central to the village community.
Church of England funeral guidanceAccessibility at the parish church
Published facilities include accessible parking when the Church Rooms are not in use, a level main entrance, assistance-dog access, an accessible toilet, hearing loop, parking, large-print materials and baby-changing facilities.
St Philip & St James churchyard
The church has a historic churchyard beside Ellis Park. Families should not assume that a new grave or ashes space is available; current eligibility, burial rights, permissions and availability must be confirmed directly with the parish church.
Ratby Parish Church Rooms
The Church Rooms stand opposite St Philip & St James and are listed by Ratby Parish Council as available for hire. A funeral reception requires direct confirmation of capacity, accessibility, catering, alcohol conditions, availability and current charges.
Ratby Methodist Church
Ratby Methodist Church is at 31 Station Road and holds regular worship. Families connected with the congregation can make a direct enquiry about a funeral or memorial service, with Bay Tree coordinating the practical arrangements where agreed.
Faith and cultural funeral guidanceMethodist Church Rooms
Ratby Parish Council lists the Methodist Church Rooms as a local hire venue. A funeral gathering remains subject to direct booking, suitability, current facilities, insurance, catering and any restrictions set by the church.
Ratby Village Hall
Ratby Village Hall is at 35 Main Street. Published information describes a single-level, accessible hall with a fully equipped kitchen, tables and chairs, seating for up to 80 people, and access suitable for disabled visitors and families with pushchairs.
A family gathering after the funeral
The Village Hall may be considered for refreshments or a family gathering. Availability, catering, alcohol conditions, deposits, timings and current hire terms must be checked directly with the hall’s management team.
Groby Cemetery restrictions
Groby Parish Council states that exclusive burial rights are solely for people who were ordinarily resident in Groby at the date of death, with limited discretion where someone recently moved away because of illness or nursing-home care.
Groby Garden of Remembrance
Ashes belonging to Groby and non-Groby residents may be scattered in Groby Cemetery’s Garden of Remembrance, subject to the Parish Council’s policy, forms, fees and arrangements.
Groby funeral guidanceExisting family graves
If the family already holds burial rights in Ratby churchyard, Groby, Kirby Muxloe, Gilroes or another cemetery, Bay Tree can help check the deed, ownership, remaining space and current reopening requirements.
Burial and existing-grave guidanceLocal Burial Options
New graves are available at Local Burial Options, subject to Leicester City Council rules, fees and availability. Non-resident burial charges apply to people living outside Leicester city.
Local Burial Options and Crematorium guideSaffron Hill Cemetery
Saffron Hill is another Leicester cemetery where new graves are available. It also provides cremated-remains plots, children’s provision, Muslim burial areas and a cemetery chapel seating 65.
Saffron Hill Cemetery guideGilroes Crematorium
Gilroes on Groby Road is normally the most practical crematorium for Ratby families. Each non-denominational chapel seats 100, with additional seating in side viewing rooms.
Gilroes Crematorium guideMusic, photographs and webcasting
Gilroes provides an induction loop, external speakers, webcasting, recordings and HD screens for photographs and video tributes. Samantha can coordinate these choices with the crematorium.
Other crematorium choices
Great Glen and South Leicestershire Crematorium at Countesthorpe may also be considered where availability, family connections, journey or the preferred setting make them suitable.
Compare crematorium choicesGlenfield Registration Office
A death occurring within the Leicestershire County Council area may be registered by appointment at Glenfield Registration Office in Anstey Frith House. The office provides death-registration appointments and free on-site parking.
Registration guidanceMedical examiner and coroner process
Before registration, every death is independently reviewed by a medical examiner or investigated by a coroner. The registrar contacts the representative after the required documentation has been received.
Bay Tree’s funeral home & chapel
Bay Tree is at 7A Welford Road, Blaby, Leicester, LE8 4FT. Ratby families can meet Samantha privately, and their loved one remains in our own care there.
Get directions to Bay TreeNearby communities
We also support families in Groby, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Desford, Leicester Forest East, Markfield, Anstey and the surrounding west Leicestershire communities.
A lower charge still has to come with excellent care
Read what families say about Samantha and Bay Tree
Prices explain only part of the decision. The reviews below help families understand Samantha’s patience, communication, attention to detail and personal involvement.
Helpful guidance for Ratby families
Speak to Samantha, compare prices and understand the local choices
You are always welcome to call rather than trying to read everything first.
Clear answers before choosing
Ratby funeral directors FAQs
These answers cover the main questions families ask before calling. More detailed local information is provided in the guide above, so it is not repeated here.
Do Bay Tree Funerals support families in Ratby?
Yes. Bay Tree supports families throughout Ratby, Groby, Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Desford and west Leicestershire from its funeral home and private Chapel of Rest in Blaby.
What should I do first when someone dies?
Call Samantha on 0116 278 8868. The correct first step depends on where and how the death occurred. You do not need to understand the paperwork or make funeral decisions before calling.
Will I deal directly with Samantha?
Samantha leads the arrangements and remains the family’s familiar contact, supported by Bay Tree’s small family team.
Does Bay Tree have a funeral home in Ratby?
No. Bay Tree openly serves Ratby from its funeral home and private Chapel of Rest at 7A Welford Road in Blaby. We do not claim a Ratby branch.
Where will my loved one be cared for?
Once your loved one comes into Bay Tree’s care, they remain at our funeral home and private Chapel of Rest in Blaby.
Can you arrange a funeral at St Philip & St James Church?
Yes. Bay Tree can coordinate the funeral director’s responsibilities for a Church of England funeral there, subject to the church’s pastoral arrangements and availability.
Can a new grave be purchased in Ratby churchyard?
That must be confirmed directly with St Philip & St James. The existence of a historic churchyard does not guarantee that a new grave or ashes space is currently available.
Can a Ratby resident be buried at Groby Cemetery?
Ordinary exclusive burial rights at Groby Cemetery are reserved for Groby residents, with limited discretion where someone recently moved away because of illness or nursing-home care. Ratby residents may use the Garden of Remembrance for ashes scattering, subject to current rules.
Where can a new grave be considered?
Gilroes and Saffron Hill currently offer new graves through Leicester City Council, subject to rules, availability and non-resident charges. Existing family graves and other parish cemeteries must be checked individually.
Which crematorium is most practical for Ratby?
Gilroes Crematorium is normally the most practical choice. Great Glen and South Leicestershire Crematorium can also be considered depending on availability, travel and family preference.
How much are Bay Tree’s attended funeral-director charges?
Bay Tree’s published attended funeral-director charges are £2,150. Crematorium, cemetery, church, minister, celebrant and other third-party costs are separate.
How do Bay Tree’s charges compare with the larger operators shown?
At figures checked on 26 July 2026, Bay Tree’s £2,150 headline charge was £445 below Ginns & Gutteridge Leicester’s £2,595 figure and £545 below Central Co-op’s official £2,695 standardised attended-funeral charge. Exact inclusions and third-party costs can differ.
Do you offer unattended cremation?
Yes. Bay Tree’s published unattended cremation price is £1,495. Samantha will explain the collection, care and suitability conditions before anything is agreed.
Nearby South Leicestershire communities
Funeral support around Ratby
For Ratby families
You do not have to organise everything before calling.
Tell Samantha what has happened. Bay Tree will explain the immediate next step, care for your loved one and coordinate the funeral arrangements one manageable decision at a time.
0116 278 8868