Two different styles
A hog roast is built around one centrepiece: a whole hog roasted on site and carved for your guests, with a few alternatives and sides. A traditional caterer plans a full menu, often with several courses, and usually needs a kitchen or a field kitchen and more staff.
When a hog roast works best
- Relaxed weddings, especially in marquees, barns and gardens
- Big birthdays, garden parties and family gatherings
- Staff days, open days and fêtes where people eat standing up
- Venues with no kitchen
- Cold-weather events where hot food matters
When a traditional caterer works best
- Formal, plated multi-course meals
- Menus built around many different dietary needs
- Venues that don’t allow cooking outdoors
- Events where a canapé reception and desserts are central
Kitchens and space
A hog roast cooks outdoors and needs no kitchen, which suits fields, gardens and marquees. A traditional caterer may need a venue kitchen or bring a field kitchen with power and water. If your venue has no kitchen, a hog roast is often simpler.
Staffing
A catered hog roast usually needs a chef to carve and a small team to serve and clear. A plated meal needs more waiting staff, which adds cost.
Cost
For larger numbers, a hog roast is often better value than a plated meal. See our cost guide.
Mixing the two
Some hosts book a traditional caterer for the main meal and a hog roast for evening food. That gives a formal wedding breakfast and a relaxed, generous evening.
Questions to help you decide
- Do you want a formal, plated meal or a relaxed, generous one?
- Does your venue have a kitchen?
- How many guests don’t eat pork?
- Is the event indoors, outdoors or both?
- What’s your budget per head?
If most answers point to relaxed, outdoors, no kitchen and most guests eating pork, a hog roast is a strong choice.
Combining styles
Some hosts combine the two: canapés and a starter from a traditional caterer, then a hog roast main, or a formal meal followed by a hog roast in the evening. If you do this, make sure both caterers know about each other and agree on timings and space.
Booking
Whichever you choose, book early for popular dates, ask for a detailed quote and get everything confirmed in writing.
A note on venues
Some venues insist on their in-house caterer for the main meal but allow outside caterers for evening food. That can be the best of both: the venue’s meal for the day and a hog roast at night.
Cost comparison
Ask both types of caterer for a quote with the same numbers and service level. Compare what’s included: staff, crockery, sides and travel.
Quick answers
Can a hog roast be a formal meal?
It can be served on china at tables with sides, but it’s still a relaxed style of food.
Do hog roast caterers do desserts?
Some do. We focus on the roast, alternatives and sides; ask about anything else.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll check the date and send a quote.