Surrey · England
Care Home Hog Roast in Merrow
We bring a hog roast day across Merrow and Surrey, roasting on site and carving to order, with our staff looking after the serving.
- Family days with visitors
- Milestone days for the home
- Seasonal events
Care home hog roast in Merrow
How our care home hog roast works in Merrow
We roast through the morning and serve at the time that suits the home’s routine, lunch or mid-afternoon. Typical bookings include staff thank-you lunches and open afternoons, with apple sauce, new potatoes and thinly carved roast pork.
For a care home in a place like Merrow, a hog roast is a real event for residents. The hog is roasted on site at your care home event, low and slow, for hours, and carved only when you are ready to eat.
Planning for dietary needs
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Tell us about dietary needs in advance
- Stuffing usually contains gluten
- Include staff and visitors in your numbers
- Request thin slices
We keep the cooking area away from residents’ windows and paths.
Ask about gluten-free rolls.
A hog roast compared with other options
Next to the usual lunch, a hog roast brings the event to residents. The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, along with distance and how easy the site is. Every booking is different, which is why each one gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- A clear quote with everything listed
- Timed around your day
- Fresh carving at the serving station
- The classics: stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
See our pricing or what a hog roast costs.
Merrow: care homes and access
Merrow is about 2 miles east of Guildford, in Surrey. We cater care home events of every size in Merrow. Merrow is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cater.
Visitors arriving by train should know that the nearest station is Clandon station, about 1.6 miles north-east. A care home summer fair, perhaps with a church like Church of St John the Evangelist, is a good occasion for a hog roast. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Merrow.
Care home events anywhere in GU1 and GU4 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster and roughly how many residents. Whether your care home event is on Park Lane, Grove Road and Wykeham Road or anywhere nearby, we can set up and roast there. Neighbouring places where we cater care home events include Burpham (1 mile north-west), Abbotswood (1 mile west), West Clandon (2 miles north-east), Guildford (2 miles west) and Chilworth (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Epsom (13 miles north-east), Farnham (12 miles west), Ewell (14 miles north-east) and Egham (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Guildford Castle (2.1 miles south-west) and Surrey Infantry Museum (0.6 miles north-east). Within reach you’ll find St Martha's Hill and Colyer's Hanger and Silent Pool.
- Local schools include St Peter's Catholic School (within half a mile west) and St Peter's Catholic School (within half a mile west)
- Pubs nearby include The Horse And Groom Public House (under half a mile south)
The menu, dish by dish
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
For vegans, there’s a vegan burger or sausage in a roll, so nobody misses out.
Rotisserie chicken
Rotisserie chicken is a simple, popular alternative to pork, turned until the skin is golden.
Your questions about a hog roast day in Merrow
What’s the nearest station to Merrow?
The closest is Clandon station, roughly 1.6 miles away.
Do you cater at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for caterers; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Do you provide china?
We supply plates as standard. You can upgrade to china if you prefer.
What happens after service?
Our staff clear up after service, and leave the area tidy.
When do you start roasting?
A whole hog roasts for several hours, which is why we arrive hours ahead. We work back from your serving time.
Do you cook in the kitchen?
In the garden or car park, in a spot you approve.
Can you cater in Merrow?
Yes, Merrow is in our area. Tell us the venue or postcode and we will confirm availability.
What happens in bad weather?
We cook under a gazebo, so rain is not a problem for the roast. Somewhere covered for people to eat helps.
Prices and what affects them
Things that change the price:
- How long the roast and service take
- Travel to Merrow
- Plates or china
- The number of people
Travel matters for the price: we include travel in the quote. Tell us the exact address so the quote is accurate.
What to tell us
Here’s what we’ll ask:
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- A photo of the cooking area
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Rough numbers
For a quote, send us a few details: the date and serving time, the venue or GU1 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Fill in our quote form.
Where the roaster can go in Merrow
We need room to cook safely and under cover. Things to check:
- Away from opening windows
- Someone to meet us
- Approval from the home
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
From the roaster
- Roast pork, carved
- Rotisserie chicken
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Salads
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- New potatoes
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Roast potatoes
The process
We cook on a gas-fired roaster, so cooking doesn’t depend on mains power, though a socket nearby is handy for lighting. In late May, sunset in Merrow is about 8:55pm, so a spring hog roast day can carry on into the evening.
- We talk through residents’ needs with your team.
- You get a clear price.
- We set up outdoors, clear of access routes.
- We carve thinly and serve on plates.
- We tidy up and go.
Preparing for the day
- Send final numbers in good time
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Check there is a route to wheel the equipment in, without steps
How to get a price
We price every booking individually, based on numbers, menu, timings and distance. Ask us for a quote for your care home event: send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Towns and villages near Merrow
More for events in Merrow
Occasions we serve in Merrow
We plan around the home’s routines.
People around Merrow book us for small gatherings and big outdoor days alike. For example:
- Family days with visitors
- Retirement community days
- Garden fêtes
- Day centre get-togethers
Residents who remember days out at St Martha's Hill and Colyer's Hanger may enjoy talking about them over lunch.
Comparing caterers
- Any travel or access charges
- VAT, if it applies
- What crockery is supplied
- The deposit, balance and cancellation terms
Organising for someone else?
Many venues set rules for outside caterers, from approved lists to where a gas roaster can go. Check early, and pass on anything they need from us.
Some venues add a fee for outside caterers, so it’s worth asking first. We will work with the venue on access and the cooking spot.
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Carved by our chef into rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Served by our staff at the time you choose, then cleared away