Reading · England
Film Set Catering in Fords Farm
From the hours of slow roasting to the last roll, a hog roast for the crew turns the food into a centrepiece of your shoot in Fords Farm.
- Location days
- Music video days
- Long days on set
A hog roast near Fords Farm
About our film set catering in Fords Farm
The roaster cooks outdoors under cover, away from equipment and trucks, agreed with the location manager. For farm and estate locations and period locations, we’ll put together a menu of a vegan option, spit-roast lamb and rotisserie chicken for your crew.
Near Fords Farm, base may be a field or yard, so ground conditions matter. The carving happens right in front of your crew, so every roll gets hot pork and a piece of crackling, and nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
For event organisers in Fords Farm
If you’re booking for a workplace, check with facilities about gas equipment and vehicle access. We work to the site’s rules.
Some venues charge a fee if you bring in your own caterer, so check before you book. We will liaise with them on access and set-up.
Fords Farm for film and TV crews
Fords Farm is about 2 miles west of Reading, in Reading. We bring a hog roast for the crew to shoots anywhere in Fords Farm, given a suitable outdoor cooking area. Fords Farm is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading where we cater.
Among the historic houses close to Fords Farm are Mapledurham House (3.1 miles north). If you’re shooting at a historic house, the roaster will need a base agreed with the property. Crew coming by rail can use the station: the closest railway station is Reading Green Park station, roughly 1.4 miles south-east of the centre.
Anywhere in RG30 and RG31, we can roast on site for your crew. From Low Lane, Mill Lane and Bath Road or a nearby road, we can set up and roast there. Close by, we cover shoots in Horncastle (1 mile north), Southcote (1 mile east), Burghfield Bridge (1 mile south), Beansheaf Farm (1 mile west) and Calcot (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Caversham (4 miles north-east), Shinfield (4 miles south-east), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south-east), Caversham Heights (3 miles north-east), Whitley Wood (3 miles south-east) and Sonning Common (6 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Battle Hospital (1.7 miles north-east) and Beaumys Castle (4.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Fords Farm include Fobney Island Wetland Reserve and South Lake.
- Nearby schools include Prospect School (0.5 miles north-east) and Elvian School (1.1 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Cunning Man pub (0.6 miles south)
Is a hog roast right for your shoot?
Next to a full location catering unit, a hog roast is simpler and suits smaller shoots and one-off days. The main driver is numbers: the price per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the roaster, staff and travel cost much the same either way.
Why us?
- An itemised quote
- Timed around your day
- Roasted on site, slowly, for hours
- Salads, potatoes and coleslaw to go with it
Read our pricing and the cost guide.
Looking after everyone
Rolls and stuffing usually contain gluten, and gluten-free rolls are available on request. Other tips:
- Share the allergen list with the crew
- Label the alternatives clearly
- Stuffing normally contains gluten
- Give us vegetarian and vegan numbers
We arrive early and set up at base, so the roast is ready by lunch.
Lamb or chicken gives the crew a choice.
What happens on the day
We get there well ahead of service, since slow roasting cannot be rushed. The smell usually brings people over long before we carve. On a winter shoot near Fords Farm, the light goes by about 3:55pm, so a late lunch or wrap at base needs lighting. Summer shoots have daylight until about 9:25pm.
- Share the location details.
- We agree our position with locations.
- We cook at base.
- We serve rolls or plates quickly.
- We leave base tidy.
How to prepare
- Choose someone to meet us on arrival
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Send final numbers in good time
How to get a price
Every quote lists the menu, the serving time, staff and plates, so you can compare caterers fairly. Use our quote form.
Read more
Occasions we serve in Fords Farm
It is hot, filling food after a long morning.
We’re regularly asked to cater a wide mix of occasions near Fords Farm, such as:
- Wrap days
- Crew thank-you days
- Period drama shoots
- Long days on set
Fords Farm is roughly 40 miles from central London.
Questions to ask before booking
- The full menu and the sides
- How dietary needs are handled
- When payments are due and what happens if plans change
- How many staff will carve and serve
How we price a hog roast for the crew
Every booking is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long the roast and service take
- Whether you want china
- Site access
- Menu choices and extras
For larger numbers, a hog roast is normally good value, because one whole roast feeds plenty of people. The menu, extras such as china and the serving time all affect the final price.
Details that help
Good details mean a good quote. Useful details:
- Dietary requirements
- Your date and serving time
- What the outdoor space is like
- Roughly how many people
Getting a quote is simple: tell us when, where, how many and what time you’d like to eat. We’ll reply with a clear price and what’s included. Send us your details through our quote form.
Space, access and the venue
A good cooking spot makes the day run smoothly. Ideally:
- Access agreed with locations
- Approval from locations
- Somewhere for crew to eat if it rains
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think before you book.
What we serve
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Spit-roast lamb
- Salads
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Vegan option (Ve)
- New potatoes
- Hog roast rolls
Questions from Fords Farm
Is Fords Farm close to London?
Roughly 40 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Could you cook in Calcot Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council, and many parks do not allow cooking. Check with them first.
How much room do you need?
Enough level ground outdoors for the roaster and a serving table under cover, plus a step-free route to wheel the equipment in. Send us a photo if you are unsure.
What’s the price?
Each event is priced on its own, based on numbers, menu, service time and distance. Ask us for a quote.
What should we sort out beforehand?
Just the agreed spot and a contact on the day. We bring the roaster, cover and serving kit.
Do you do DIY hog roast hire?
Yes, we hire out the hog roast machine. We’ll confirm what comes with it and how to use it.
Can you roast in the rain?
Rain does not stop the cooking. Somewhere covered for people to eat helps.
Do you serve the food?
We carve and serve for you, and we clear up when service is finished.
Nearby places to Fords Farm
What else we do in Fords Farm
The menu, dish by dish
Crackling
Crackling takes hours to get right, which is exactly what a slow hog roast gives it.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
For vegetarians, halloumi and vegetable skewers are cooked separately from the meat, so they get something hot and satisfying too.
- Slow-roasted on site for hours, outdoors at your event
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Served by our staff at the time you choose, then cleared away