Medway · England
Barbecue Catering in Hale, Medway
BBQ catering for events in Hale: cooked outdoors under cover with staff to serve and clear, so you can enjoy the day.
- Retirement do’s
- Back-garden get-togethers
- Birthdays and milestone parties
Book a BBQ in Hale
Hale barbecues: local tips
Hale is about 1 mile south-west of Gillingham, in Medway. We cover Hale and its neighbours for events. Hale is one of 68 towns and villages in Medway we cover. Our nearest city page is Canterbury, about 23 miles away.
For anyone arriving by rail, the closest railway station is Gillingham (Kent) station, roughly 1.6 miles north of the centre. Nearby historic houses include Restoration House (2.7 miles north-west) and Temple Manor (3.4 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking on site, so ask early if you’re booking one. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Hale, so a countryside barbecue here comes with a view. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about open cooking and vehicles, so check with yours.
Anywhere in ME5, we can bring the barbecue to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Darland (1 mile south-east), Capstone (1 mile south-east), Luton (1 mile north-west), Gillingham (1 mile north-east) and Chatham (1 mile south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Rochester (3 miles north-west), Strood (4 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (4 miles north), Rochester Riverside (3 miles north-west), Peters Village (4 miles west) and Frindsbury (3 miles north-west).
A little further out are Rochester Castle (2.9 miles north-west) and Pentagon Shopping Centre (1.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Hale include Blue Bell Hill and Burham Down.
- Schools near Hale include Chatham Grammar School for Girls (0.8 miles north) and The Robert Napier School (1 mile north)
- Nearby, you will find The Star pub (0.7 miles north-east)
- Local facilities include Chatham Free Library (1.4 miles north-west)
BBQ catering in Hale, cooked on site
Hosting a barbecue generally means shopping, prepping, cooking and clearing. A catered barbecue takes all of that off your hands, so you can spend the time with your guests. We serve beef brisket, BBQ ribs and chicken skewers, and we are frequently booked for garden parties and relaxed weddings and evening receptions.
Country barbecues near Hale are hard to beat on a summer evening. Have a covered area for guests in wet weather, and think about lighting if it runs late. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will give you the allergen information for every dish.
Your questions about a catered barbecue in Hale
Can you do a barbecue in Darland Banks?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
Can you do a barbecue at a venue in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for caterers; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is BBQ catering only for summer?
Most barbecues are in summer, but we can cook in any season, with cover over the grill. Plan shelter for your guests.
Is clearing up included?
We tidy the serving area. China is available on request.
Should we have every meat?
Most events choose three or four meats, plus the meat-free options. A shorter menu also speeds up service.
Do you need anything from us?
A level, open spot outdoors for the grill, with room for a serving table and a way in for our equipment. Let us know about the site and we will confirm what we need.
Is the meat halal?
No, we don’t offer halal meat. Our meat-free options are there, or halal food would need to be arranged separately.
How far ahead should we book a barbecue?
Summer Saturdays go first, so ask as early as you can. Weekday and off-season dates are often easier. Use our quote form.
Why a catered barbecue beats doing it yourself
Next to a hog roast, a barbecue offers more variety, which helps when some guests don’t eat pork. A hog roast is the bigger spectacle, so some events have both. When comparing prices, compare the same things: the menu, sides, service time, staffing, crockery and travel. The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value.
Why us?
- An itemised quote
- Staff to serve, so you don’t have to
- Halloumi skewers and a vegan option
- Timed around your day
About the food
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
A plant-based burger or sausage covers vegans, served in a roll with salads.
Salads, coleslaw and potatoes
Add salads, coleslaw and potatoes for a proper meal.
What happens on the day
Most barbecue food is cooked through service, so we arrive ahead of food time and cook to demand. That keeps everything hot and fresh. Evening barbecues in Hale need a little planning: daylight lasts until about 9:20pm at midsummer, but by late September it goes at about 7:00pm. After dark, the serving table needs lighting.
- Tell us what kind of event it is.
- You get a suggested menu and a price.
- We set up the grill before food time.
- We serve as people come up.
- The serving area is cleared before we leave.
Before we arrive
- Think about where the smoke will drift
- Include children in your numbers
- Tell us about narrow gates or side passages
How to get a price
Numbers not final yet? A rough figure is fine for a first quote, then confirm closer to the date. Use our quote form.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
Some venues add a fee for outside caterers, so check before booking. We will work with the venue on access and the cooking spot.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, a PA or on a committee, tell us who our contact on the day will be. We will keep you both updated.
Events we cater in Hale
No host spending the day cooking
In Hale and nearby, we cater for all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Street parties
- Birthdays and milestone parties
- School fairs and summer fêtes
- Fundraising barbecues
A green space like Darland Banks is tempting, but a catered barbecue there needs the landowner’s say-so.
What to look for in a quote
- VAT, if it applies
- Which meats, sides and extras are included
- Any travel or access charges
- When payments are due and what happens if plans change
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Tell us if anyone does not eat beef
- Plan separately for anyone who needs halal food
- Request gluten-free rolls
- Think about who does not eat pork or beef when choosing the meats
If timings change, tell your contact as early as you can, and we will work around it where possible.
Pulled pork and brisket make the menu feel more substantial.
Where the barbecue can go in Hale
The cooking area is the main thing to plan. A quick checklist:
- Parking near the grill
- A step-free route to wheel the equipment in
- The venue’s agreement for an outside caterer
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
From the grill
- BBQ ribs
- Sausages
- Chicken skewers
- Salads
- New potatoes
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
- Jacket potatoes
- Pulled pork
- Beef brisket
- Coleslaw
- Beef burgers
What else we do in Hale
How we price a catered barbecue
Things that change the price:
- Distance from us
- How easy it is to reach the spot
- Busy dates such as summer Saturdays
- Crockery choices
The menu makes a big difference to the price: burgers and sausages cost less than brisket and ribs, so the quote shows each choice. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What to tell us
To get the best quote, tell us:
- Rough numbers
- Where the event is
- Dietary requirements
- Rules from the venue or landowner
Send us the date, the address or ME5 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time. We will check the date and send a quote. Send us your details through our quote form.
- Cooked on site by our chef, outdoors under cover
- A full barbecue menu, not just burgers
- Vegetarian and vegan options: halloumi skewers and a vegan burger or sausage
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards