Advice

Advice and planning guides

Practical guides to planning a hog roast for weddings, parties and events, from costs and space to crackling.

Planning and prices

How much does a hog roast cost?
Published UK price ranges, what changes the price, and how to compare quotes like for like.
Questions to ask before you book a hog roast
Use this list to compare hog roast caterers like for like and avoid surprises on the day.
How much space does a hog roast need?
A hog roast cooks outdoors for hours. Here’s what the cooking area needs, and the questions to answer before you book.
How many people does a hog roast feed?
Published guides from UK caterers, and how to work out the right size of roast for your numbers.
How long does a hog roast take to cook?
Why a whole hog takes hours, what affects the time, and how to plan your day around it.
Hog roast or barbecue: which should you choose?
How the two compare, and how to choose for your guests, venue and budget.
DIY hog roast machine hire: what’s involved
Hiring the roaster and cooking it yourself can save money. Here’s what it really involves.
Hog roast or traditional caterer?
How a hog roast compares with a full-service caterer, and which suits your event.
How far ahead should you book a hog roast?
When popular dates fill up, and what to do if your event is soon.
A wet weather plan for your hog roast
British weather is unpredictable. Here’s how to make sure a hog roast still works if it pours.
Hog roasts in parks and on other people’s land
Who to ask before you plan a hog roast in a park, on a green, in a field or on a street.

A hog roast at your wedding: the complete guide
How to plan a wedding hog roast, from the wedding breakfast to evening food, with the questions to ask your venue.
Evening wedding food ideas
What to feed guests after the first dance, and how to get the timing right.
Wedding catering timeline
When to book, confirm and finalise your wedding catering, with notes for a hog roast.

Planning a hog roast for a birthday party
Make a milestone birthday memorable without spending the day in the kitchen.
Garden party checklist
Everything to think about when you host a party in the garden.
A hog roast at a street party
How to include a hog roast in a street party safely and with the right permissions.
Retirement and leaving party ideas
How to give a colleague a proper send-off, with food everyone enjoys.

Planning a corporate hog roast
How to organise a hog roast for staff days, open days and client events.
Christmas party catering ideas
How to feed a Christmas party well, from the office to the village hall.
Festival catering: a guide for organisers
How to plan food at a festival, show or community event.
A guide to village fête food
How to make the food at your fête a highlight.
School fair food ideas
How PTAs can feed families and raise money at the summer fair.
Hog roast fundraiser ideas
Ways a hog roast can help a charity, club or school raise money.
Film set catering with a hog roast
How a hog roast can feed a crew at the unit base or a wrap party.

Wake catering: a practical guide
Arranging food after a funeral, simply and calmly.
Planning a hog roast day at a care home
A hog roast can turn an ordinary day into an occasion. Here’s how to plan one safely.

What to serve with a hog roast
The classic accompaniments, the best sides and how to make a hog roast a full meal.
Vegetarian and vegan guests at a hog roast
A hog roast is pork. Here’s how to make sure everyone else eats just as well.
Allergens at events: what caterers must tell you
How to plan food safely for guests with allergies.
Perfect crackling: why slow roasting works
The science and craft behind good hog roast crackling.
Pork or lamb: choosing your spit roast
How pork and lamb compare, and when to offer both.
A short history of the hog roast
From spits over open fires to the gas-fired roasters at today’s weddings and fêtes.

Ready to book a hog roast?