Greater London · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Downe
From the first smell of roasting pork to the last piece of crackling, a hog roast for the wake turns the food into a centrepiece of your wake in Downe.
- Wakes in village halls
- Gatherings after a cremation
- Gatherings at clubs and pubs
A hog roast near Downe
Prices and what affects them
There is no fixed price list, since every event is different. The main factors are:
- Access to the cooking area
- Crockery choices
- The number of people
- The serving time and how long we are on site
Travel matters for the price: travel is included in your quote, with any London charges listed. Tell us the exact address so the quote is accurate.
What we need to know
To get the best quote, send us:
- Any venue rules
- The venue or postcode
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- A picture of the cooking area
Every quote lists the menu, the serving time, staff and plates, so it’s easy to compare like for like. Use our quote form.
Funeral wake catering in Downe, slow-roasted on site
Funerals are usually planned within a week or two. Contact us as soon as you have a date, and we will tell you right away whether we can help. We’re frequently asked to cater anniversary memorials and ashes ceremonies, with rotisserie chicken, salads and halloumi skewers.
In Downe, a wake might be at home, a hall or a local pub. We need an outdoor spot to cook, which we can help you think through. The hog is roasted on site at your wake, slowly, over several hours, then carved fresh for your guests.
- Where
- Downe (BR6)
- Region
- Greater London
- On the menu
- Hog roast rolls, stuffing, apple sauce, crackling
- Extras
- Spit-roast lamb, rotisserie chicken, vegetarian and vegan options
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Wakes in Downe: venues and practical details
Downe is about 4 miles south-west of Orpington, in Greater London. Wakes in Downe are part of our patch, along with the towns and villages around it. We cover 764 places in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. We cater events right across the region, from Downe to London (13 miles away).
Relatives arriving by train should know that the closest railway station is Chelsfield station, roughly 2.6 miles north-east of the centre. Downe is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Wakes anywhere in BR6 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster and a serving time. Streets in the area include High Street, North End Lane and Belle Vue Road, and a wake on any of them works with a garden, drive or yard for the roaster. If your venue is just outside Downe, we also cover Farthing Street (1 mile north-west), Hazelwood (1 mile east), Luxted (1 mile south), Leaves Green (1 mile west) and Single Street (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in London (13 miles north-west), City of Westminster (15 miles north-west), Marylebone (15 miles north-west), St Pancras (15 miles north-west), Shoreditch (14 miles north-west) and Hoxton (15 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Crofton Roman Villa (2.7 miles north-east) and Princess Royal University Hospital (1.8 miles north). Open spaces near Downe include Downe Bank Nature Reserve and Betsom's Hill.
- Schools near Downe include Charles Darwin School (1.8 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Queens Head pub (less than half a mile south)
The process
A hog roast is always cooked outside, under a gazebo on level ground, away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging branches. We agree exactly where before the day. Most wakes in Downe are held in the afternoon, so light is rarely a problem, but by late December it’s dark at about 3:55pm.
- Contact us as soon as you have a date.
- We check the cooking spot with the venue.
- We set up and roast on the day.
- Our staff serve without fuss.
- We leave the venue tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan a step-free way in for the equipment
- Plan somewhere sheltered for people to eat if it rains
- Ensure the cooking area is away from walls, tents and trees
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: 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. Fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces can work with a little planning. Here’s what helps:
- Clearance from walls and branches
- A level outdoor area
- One contact on the day
As a London location, Downe is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and access takes planning: tell us about side or rear access, steps and parking for our vehicle.
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before you book.
From the roaster
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
- Coleslaw
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Rotisserie chicken
- Salads
- New potatoes
- Vegan option (Ve)
Allergies and dietary needs
Most people love a hog roast, but it is pork. Some ways to look after everyone:
- Find out who would prefer chicken or a vegetarian option
- Older guests may prefer food on plates
- Check with family about dietary needs
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
One contact for the day helps, so the family can focus on guests.
If there was a favourite dish from our menu, tell us.
Towns and villages near Downe
Also in Downe
Is a hog roast right for your wake?
Next to sandwiches, a hog roast is a warm meal. Compare like for like: menu, sides, serving time, staff, plates and travel. The cheapest quote is not always the best value.
Why Downe hosts choose us
- Planned to your running order
- Choices for people who do not eat pork
- Roasted on site, slowly, for hours
- Serving and clearing done for you
Read our prices page and the cost guide.
What we serve, dish by dish
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Some guests will be vegetarian, and halloumi skewers give them a proper hot option.
Rolls and gluten-free rolls
Rolls make a hog roast easy to eat anywhere. We can bring gluten-free rolls if you ask.
Planners, venues and businesses
Marquee suppliers generally set distances for cooking equipment, so let them know about the roaster. The roaster stays a safe distance from the marquee.
Booking for a club or group? One clear contact makes everything easier, especially on the day.
Common questions in Downe
Can you cater after a service at St Mary's Church?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with room to cook outside. Churches rarely have space for a hog roast, so the food is generally elsewhere. Send us the address.
Can you get a hog roast into a London garden in Downe?
It depends on access: a rear gate or yard usually works. Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Can you roast in the rain?
We cook under a gazebo, so rain isn’t a problem for the roast. A marquee, hall or barn for eating makes all the difference.
What happens after service?
We pack everything away after service, so you’re not left with the mess.
How quickly can you cater a wake?
We do our best at short notice. Send the date and venue for a quick answer.
Can you be flexible on serving time?
Because the roast takes hours, we plan from your serving time, and a cooked roast can be held for a while if things run late.
Can you wait?
We wait: a cooked roast can be held for a while.
What do we need to organise?
Just the venue, rough numbers and a contact for the day. We bring everything else.
Why choose funeral wake catering in Downe?
It copes with timings that shift.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Downe and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Church and village hall wakes
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Wakes at a local club
For a service at a church like St Mary's Church, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Questions to ask before you book
- Any travel or access charges
- Which meats, sides and extras are included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Where the roaster goes and what it needs
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away