Surrey · England
Film Set Catering for Merle Common
From the first smell of roasting pork to the last piece of crackling, a hog roast for the crew makes the food part of your shoot in Merle Common.
- Crew thank-you days
- Ad shoots
- Location days
Planning an event in Merle Common?
Film set catering in Merle Common, slow-roasted on site
Wrap parties suit a hog roast too. For long shoot days and countryside locations, we will put together a menu of halloumi skewers, spit-roast lamb and a vegan option.
Rural locations near Merle Common can be a long way from food, so hot food at base is a big help. The hog is roasted on site at your shoot, slowly, over several hours, and carved only when you’re ready to eat.
Looking after everyone
Some crew will not eat pork, so it is worth adding an alternative. A few pointers:
- Ask the production office for dietary needs
- Post allergen details at base
- Ask for gluten-free rolls if needed
- Give us vegetarian and vegan numbers
If lunch moves, we hold the roast a little; just let us know.
Wrap parties can run into the evening.
Events we cater in Merle Common
There are options for non-pork eaters.
Hosts in Merle Common book us for everything from small get-togethers to big outdoor events. For example:
- Crew appreciation lunches
- Extended shoot days
- Farm and estate locations
- Ad shoots
Nearby historic houses include Chartwell (3.3 miles north-east) and Titsey Place (3.6 miles north). Period locations like these generally keep catering well away from the house, so agree the base early.
What your quote should include
- Whether VAT is included
- Allergen information for every dish
- What the cooking area needs: space, cover and access
- Staffing on the day
How we price a hog roast for the crew
Here’s what affects the price:
- Access to the cooking area
- Whether you want china
- Menu choices and extras
- Travel to Merle Common
Extras such as lamb, chicken, more sides or china crockery add to the cost, so each one is itemised. A simple menu keeps the cost down.
Details that help
Good details mean a good quote. Useful details:
- Any extras, such as lamb, chicken or china
- Where the event is
- A photo of the cooking area
- The date and time of the event
Send us the date, the address or RH8 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time. We will confirm availability and send a price. Fill in our quote form.
Is a hog roast right for your shoot?
Compared with a full location caterer, a hog roast suits single days and smaller crews. The main driver is numbers: the price per head typically falls as numbers rise, since much of the cost is fixed.
Why book our hog roast in Merle Common
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside
- Carved to order by a chef
- An itemised quote
- Timed around your day
Read how we price or our hog roast cost guide.
Planning a shoot in Merle Common
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. From village halls to gardens and fields, shoots around Merle Common suit a hog roast. We bring hog roasts to 395 places in Surrey. Our bookings stretch from Merle Common to London (about 19 miles away).
For crew arriving by train, Hurst Green station is about 1.4 miles away. Merle Common is roughly 19 miles from central London.
Wherever your shoot is in RH8, we can bring the roaster to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. For shoots just outside Merle Common, we cover Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
- Nearby schools include Oxted School (2.4 miles north)
Space, access and the venue
The roaster needs space, cover and a safe distance from anything that could catch the heat. Things to check:
- A named contact at base
- Clearance from trucks, kit and trees
- Flat ground at the unit base
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Salads
- Spit-roast lamb
- Rotisserie chicken
- Vegan option (Ve)
- New potatoes
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
- Stuffing and apple sauce
What happens on the day
People love watching the carving: the hog is carved in front of your crew, with crackling for everyone who wants it. On a winter shoot near Merle Common, the light goes by about 3:55pm, so the unit base needs lighting for late service. In summer, light lasts until about 9:20pm.
- Tell us the base location.
- We agree our position with locations.
- We cook at base.
- We serve rolls or plates quickly.
- We leave base tidy.
How to prepare
- Gather dietary requirements early
- Tell us about narrow gates or side passages
- Make sure we can wheel the roaster to the spot
Get a quote
To get a quote, just send us your date, venue and numbers. A picture of where the roaster could go helps us check the space. Use our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Spit-roast lamb
With lamb as well, there are two roasts to choose from, which suits bigger events.
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
Tell us how many vegans to expect, and we will bring enough vegan burgers or sausages.
Places near Merle Common
What else we do in Merle Common
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have rules for outside caterers, including where gas cooking is allowed. Check early, and pass on anything they need from us.
For venues and planners, we are happy to work alongside your team.
Merle Common: your questions answered
Is Merle Common close to London?
Roughly 19 miles from the centre of London.
Is Merle Common too small for a hog roast?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
What if it rains?
We cook under a gazebo, so rain is not a problem for the roast. A marquee, hall or barn for eating makes all the difference.
Where does the hog roast go?
Roughly the footprint of a gazebo or two, on level ground, well clear of walls, tents and branches. We will confirm the space with your quote.
Can we just hire the roaster?
Yes, we hire out the hog roast machine. We will explain what’s supplied and how it works when we quote.
Do you bring plates?
Plates are included. China is available at an extra cost.
Can you get to rural locations?
We can, given access details. Let us know about the route.
What about crew who do not eat pork?
Add alternatives to suit your crew.
- Cooked where you are, slowly, over several hours outdoors
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Not just pork: spit-roast lamb, chicken and vegetarian choices
- Our team serves at your chosen time and clears up afterwards