East Sussex · England
BBQ Catering for Shortgate
A catered barbecue for events around Shortgate: burgers, ribs and brisket with salads and potatoes, and staff to serve.
- Leaving parties
- Evening wedding food
- Summer parties in the garden
Book a BBQ in Shortgate
Shortgate barbecues: local tips
Shortgate is about 4 miles south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. We cater events of every size in Shortgate. Shortgate is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cater. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 12 miles away.
Coming by train? The closest railway station is Uckfield station, roughly 3.9 miles north of the centre. Shortgate is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about open cooking and vehicles, so check with yours.
Here we cover the BN8 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater events in Halland (1 mile north-east), East Hoathly (2 miles east), Whitesmith (2 miles east), Chiddingly (3 miles east) and Framfield (4 miles north). We also serve nearby towns such as Eastbourne (12 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south-west), Hailsham (7 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north) and Newhaven (9 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Uckfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles north). Open spaces near Shortgate include Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
BBQ catering in Shortgate, cooked on site
The point of a catered barbecue is that you get to enjoy it. Our chef cooks, our staff serve and we tidy up afterwards, so your time goes on your guests, not the food. Popular choices include coleslaw, halloumi skewers and BBQ ribs, and we are frequently booked for street parties and fundraising barbecues.
In a small place like Shortgate, a barbecue in a garden, a paddock or the village green with permission is frequently the plan. Tell us about lanes and ground, and we’ll plan the route. Everything is cooked through properly, with raw and cooked food kept apart.
- Where
- Shortgate (BN8)
- Area hub
- East Sussex
- Menu
- Burgers, sausages, chicken skewers, ribs
- Also available
- Pulled pork, beef brisket, vegetarian and vegan options
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Nearby places to Shortgate
What else we do in Shortgate
The process
We get there well ahead of food time, so the barbecue is ready when you are. The smell soon brings people over. At midsummer, it’s light in Shortgate until about 9:15pm, which gives a barbecue a long summer evening. In late September, it’s dark by about 7:05pm.
- Send a photo of where the barbecue could go.
- We check it and send a price.
- We grill outdoors at your event.
- We serve as your guests come up.
- We leave the spot tidy.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers ahead of the day
- Pick a spot where smoke blows away from guests
- Tell us which meats you’d like in advance
Get a quote
Busy weekends book up early, so ask early for summer Saturdays and December. Send us your date for a quote: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Questions from Shortgate
Can you do a barbecue at a venue in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for caterers; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Shortgate close to London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London.
What happens after service?
Our staff clear the serving area, so you’re not left with the mess.
How soon do barbecue dates go?
The earlier the better for summer weekends. Weekday and off-season dates are frequently easier. Use our quote form.
How much choice do we need?
Most events choose three or four meats, plus the meat-free options. A shorter menu also speeds up service.
What do you need from the venue?
Mostly space and access: somewhere level outside for the barbecue and the serving table. We’ll check anything else with you.
Is the meat halal?
We don’t. Please arrange halal food separately if anyone needs it.
What meats do you barbecue?
Six meats, plus vegetarian and vegan options. Three or four meats is plenty for most groups.
What comes off the grill
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
Vegan guests can have a vegan burger or sausage, so everyone has something hot.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Vegetarians get halloumi and vegetable skewers, a hot, filling option of their own.
For event organisers in Shortgate
If the event is on someone else’s land, you will need the landowner’s permission for cooking and vehicles. Get that agreed before booking.
For venues and planners, we can fit around your other suppliers, sharing timings and a site plan.
A catered barbecue compared with other options
Compared with a DIY barbecue, nobody you know spends the event at the grill, and the food is cooked properly by people who do it every week. What you choose to eat matters most: burgers and sausages cost less than brisket and ribs, so the quote shows each choice. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Our staff serve and clear
- Planned to your running order
- Hot food straight off the grill
- A choice of salads and potatoes
Read how we price and our barbecue menu ideas.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces can work if a few things are right. Here’s what we look for:
- A spot well clear of buildings
- Somewhere for us to park close to the cooking spot
- Somewhere the smoke can drift away from open windows
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
From the grill
- Sausages
- Chicken skewers
- Beef brisket
- Jacket potatoes
- Pulled pork
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Salads
- Beef burgers
- Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
- New potatoes
- BBQ ribs
- Coleslaw
Occasions we serve in Shortgate
You enjoy the barbecue instead of cooking it
Barbecues work for lots of occasions around Shortgate. Popular choices:
- Relaxed weddings and evening receptions
- Back-garden get-togethers
- Street parties
- Reunions and family get-togethers
Among the historic houses close to Shortgate are Glyndebourne (3.5 miles south-west) and Glynde Place (4 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on outside caterers and open cooking early.
Before booking anyone
- Allergen information for every dish
- What crockery is supplied
- Payment terms and cancellation policy
- Whether VAT is included
Prices and what affects them
There’s no fixed price list, because every event is different. The main factors are:
- The number of people
- The journey to the venue
- The date and time of year
- How easy it is to reach the spot
Compare like for like: menu, sides, serving time, staff, plates and travel. A cheaper headline price can leave things out.
What to tell us
When you enquire, please mention:
- Any dietary needs or allergies
- The date and time of the event
- Roughly how many people
- Anything the venue has asked for
We need a few details to quote: your date, your venue or postcode, how many people and any menu choices. Fill in our quote form.
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Ask about allergens in glazes and sauces
- Keep the meat-free options clearly labelled
- Let us know roughly how many children are coming
- Plan separately for anyone who needs halal food
The barbecue goes where we agreed, so the event carries on around us.
Ask about china for a sit-down meal, at extra cost.
- Our chef at the grill, so you don’t have to be
- Burgers, sausages and chicken, plus ribs, pulled pork and brisket
- Something for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards