Kent · England
Hog Roast for Film Crews in Benenden, Kent
From the hours of slow roasting to the last roll, a hog roast for the crew makes the food part of your shoot in Benenden.
- Location shoots
- Milestone days on set
- Music video days
Film set catering for Benenden
How our film set catering works in Benenden
Chicken, lamb, halloumi skewers and a vegan option cover most crews, and we provide allergen information for every dish. On the menu are new potatoes, spit-roast lamb and rotisserie chicken, and we’re regularly asked to cater music video days and historic house shoots.
For a shoot in a place like Benenden, tracks and soft ground need checking. The carving happens right in front of your crew, so the pork is hot and the crackling is crisp.
Shooting in Benenden: unit bases and access
Benenden is about 13 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We’re happy to travel to Benenden for shoots. We cover all 922 towns and villages in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Canterbury, about 26 miles away.
The B2086 give trucks and catering a straightforward route to Benenden. Benenden is about 42 miles from central London, within easy reach for London-based crews. Benenden is within about 3 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, so check cooking and vehicle rules with locations.
This part of Kent takes in TN17. We can cater a shoot on streets such as The Street, Hortons Close and Iden Green Road, wherever there’s an outdoor spot for the roaster. Benenden sits on or near the B2086, so getting the roaster to your shoot is simple. Nearby, we also cater shoots in Iden Green (1 mile south), Coursehorn (2 miles north-west), Baker's Cross (2 miles north-west), Swattenden (2 miles north-west) and Cranbrook (3 miles north-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (14 miles north), Ashford (13 miles east), Royal Tunbridge Wells (14 miles west), Foley Park (15 miles north), Paddock Wood (11 miles north-west) and Tenterden (5 miles east).
A little further out are Mervyn Quinlan Museum (2 miles north-east) and Sissinghurst Castle (3.2 miles north).
- Local pubs include King William IV Public House (within half a mile south)
Why choose a hog roast in Benenden?
Compared with a full location caterer, a hog roast suits single days and smaller crews. The price depends on numbers, the menu and how long we serve, along with distance and how easy the site is. There is no one-size price, so we quote each one individually.
Why book with us
- Sides to make it a full meal
- Slow-roasted at your venue, not reheated
- Fresh carving at the serving station
- We bring everything to cook and serve
Take a look at our prices page and our hog roast cost guide.
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. Here are a few tips:
- Count crew needing an alternative
- Collect crew dietary needs from the call sheet
- Post allergen details at base
- Label the alternatives clearly
We get to base first thing, roasting through the morning.
Sides make a proper lunch.
How it works
We work to your timings. If the day runs behind, we can hold the cooked roast for a while before carving, so tell us as soon as plans change. At midsummer, daylight in Benenden lasts until about 9:15pm, so a wrap party can run into the evening.
- Production sends us the location and call times.
- We check access to base and quote.
- The roast starts early.
- We carve fast on the lunch call.
- We clear our spot.
Before we arrive
- Make sure the cooking area is away from walls, tents and trees
- Gather dietary requirements early
- Have a covered area for eating in case of rain
How to get a price
Busy weekends book up early, so ask early for summer Saturdays and December. Send us your date for a quote: use our quote form.
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For planners, venues and organisers
Organisers may ask for documents such as a risk assessment or gas safety information. Let us know what your event requires and we will tell you what we can send.
For events on land you do not own, such as a park or field, the landowner needs to agree to cooking and vehicles. Get that agreed before booking.
About the food
Rotisserie chicken
For crew who don’t eat pork, rotisserie chicken is the easy answer, and it suits fussy eaters.
Spit-roast lamb
Lamb on the spit roasts gently for hours, and it is carved the same way.
Why choose film set catering in Benenden?
It’s hot, filling food after a long morning.
Lots of different events suit a hog roast. Typical bookings include:
- Extended shoot days
- Wrap days
- Crew thank-you days
- Lunch at base
Within reach of Benenden are historic houses such as Great Dixter (5 miles south). Period locations like these normally keep catering well away from the house, so agree the base early.
What your quote should include
- A clear list of what’s included
- Who carves and who serves
- The deposit, balance and cancellation terms
- The full menu and the sides
Benenden questions
Can you do a hog roast at a venue in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about cooking and vehicles, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Is Benenden close to London?
About 42 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook inside a hall or marquee?
The roaster always stays outside, under cover, at a safe distance from walls and tents. We can frequently serve indoors if the venue agrees.
Can you cater for vegetarians?
The menu has lamb, chicken, vegetarian and vegan options. Halal meat is not something we offer.
What do you need from us on the day?
Just the agreed spot and a contact on the day. We bring the roaster, cover and serving kit.
When should we book?
As early as you can for summer weekends and December. For other dates, a few weeks can be enough. Ask and we will check.
Do you do DIY hog roast hire?
We do, if you are happy to roast and carve yourself. We’ll explain the details with your quote.
Is mains power needed?
The roaster runs on gas, so we do not need mains power to cook. Power can help with lighting after dark.
Places near Benenden
More for events in Benenden
Where the roaster can go in Benenden
Most outdoor spaces can work with a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- The location manager’s agreement
- Shelter for crew
- Clearance from trucks, kit and trees
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Hog roast rolls
- Spit-roast lamb
- Salads
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
- New potatoes
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Stuffing and apple sauce
What a hog roast costs
Things that change the price:
- Site access
- Distance from us
- The date and time of year
- The serving time and how long we are on site
Extras such as lamb, chicken, more sides or china crockery add to the cost, so each one is itemised. Keeping it simple keeps it affordable.
Details that help
The more we know, the more accurate the quote. Please include:
- Where the roaster could go, ideally with a picture
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Dietary requirements
Send us the date, the address or TN17 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time. We’ll confirm availability and send a price. Send us your details through our quote form.
- Cooked where you are, slowly, over several hours outdoors
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away