Surrey · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Great Bookham
Funeral wake catering in Great Bookham: a whole hog slow-roasted on site, carved to order and served in soft rolls with crackling.
- Gatherings at clubs and pubs
- Scattering-of-ashes gatherings
- Home wakes
Funeral wake catering for Great Bookham
Funeral wake catering in Great Bookham, slow-roasted on site
We keep things simple for families: one call, one quote and quiet, reliable service. We’re often asked to cater gatherings at the family home and pub and club wakes, with rotisserie chicken, new potatoes and salads.
For a wake in a place like Great Bookham, the village hall is frequently the heart of it, and its grounds suit the roaster. Tell us about dietary needs and allergies when you enquire, and we’ll give you the allergen information for every dish.
Great Bookham questions
We are gathering after a service at Church of St Nicolas: can you cater?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby with an outdoor spot for the roaster. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you’ll gather.
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’ll follow the site rules.
Do you bring plates?
We supply plates as standard. You can upgrade to china if you prefer.
What if the service runs late?
We wait: we hold the food until people arrive.
Can we hire the machine and cook it ourselves?
DIY machine hire is available. We will explain what’s supplied and how it works when we quote.
Is it a sit-down meal?
We serve on plates, with china as an option.
Is a week’s notice enough?
Often, yes. Contact us as soon as you have a date and we will tell you quickly.
How big a hog will we need?
The roast is chosen to suit how many you are feeding, so tell us your best estimate. The quote sets it out.
Great Bookham: halls, homes and travel
Great Bookham is about 6 miles south-west of Epsom, in Surrey. We cover Great Bookham and its neighbours for wakes. Great Bookham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cater. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 9 miles away.
Relatives arriving by train should know that the nearest station is Bookham station, about 0.8 miles north-west. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Great Bookham; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
Wakes anywhere in KT23 and KT22 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster. From High Street, Church Road and Beeches Drive or a nearby road, we will bring the roaster to you. We also bring hog roasts to wakes in Fetcham (1 mile north-east), Little Bookham (1 mile south-west), Leatherhead (2 miles north-east), Mickleham (2 miles east) and Westhumble (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (9 miles west), Woking (9 miles west), Epsom (6 miles north-east), Horley (11 miles south-east), Redhill (9 miles east) and Ewell (7 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Headley Court (4.1 miles east) and Betchworth Castle (4.4 miles south-east). Open spaces near Great Bookham include Box Hill and Jubilee Wood.
- Local schools include Manor House School (0.9 miles south-west) and Howard of Effingham School (1.1 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Old Crown pub (within half a mile south-west)
Prices and what affects them
There is no fixed price list, because every wake is different. What matters most:
- Crockery choices
- Time on site
- Access to the cooking area
- Travel to Great Bookham
When comparing prices, compare the same things: menu, sides, serving time, staff, plates and travel. The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value.
Details that help
To get the best quote, tell us:
- Your date and serving time
- Your menu choices
- Rough numbers
- The address or postcode
Not sure how many to cater for? A rough figure is fine for a first quote, then confirm closer to the date. Fill in our quote form.
For planners, venues and organisers
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.
Marquee suppliers generally set distances for cooking equipment, so let them know about the roaster. The roaster stays a safe distance from the marquee.
A closer look at the menu
Rotisserie chicken
Rotisserie chicken is there for anyone who’d rather not have pork, and children typically like it too.
Stuffing and apple sauce
A spoonful of apple sauce and a slice of stuffing turn a pork roll into a hog roast roll.
Step by step
We arrive hours before you want to eat, because a whole hog takes hours to roast. Your guests will smell it long before they see it. Autumn and winter afternoons in Great Bookham get dark early: about 7:05pm in late September and 3:55pm in December, so a later wake may need lighting outside.
- Get in touch when the date is set.
- We check the cooking spot with the venue.
- We cook on site.
- Our staff serve without fuss.
- We tidy up and go.
How to prepare
- Check there’s nothing overhead or close by that could catch the heat
- Choose a level, open spot outdoors for the roaster
- Give us a contact number for the day
How to get a price
For a quote, send us a few details: the date and serving time, the venue or KT23 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Use our quote form.
Read more
Events we cater in Great Bookham
It feeds everyone at once, so people can eat and share memories.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Great Bookham and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Home wakes
- Ashes ceremonies
- Gatherings after a cremation
- Life celebrations
If the funeral is at a church such as Church of St Nicolas, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Before booking anyone
- The menu, including sides and any extras
- How long the roast takes and when they’ll arrive
- VAT, if it applies
- The deposit, balance and cancellation terms
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Standard rolls and stuffing contain gluten, so ask for gluten-free rolls if you need them. A few more tips:
- Stuffing typically contains gluten
- Ask us to label the vegetarian food
- Plates are easier for older guests than rolls
- Ask close family about dietary needs
We hold the food if people are delayed.
China crockery is available on request.
Before you choose a spot
The roaster needs space, cover and a safe distance from anything that could catch the heat. Things to check:
- A hall or room for eating
- One contact on the day
- A short route for the equipment
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
From the roaster
- Coleslaw
- New potatoes
- Rotisserie chicken
- Salads
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
- Stuffing and apple sauce
Towns and villages near Great Bookham
More for events in Great Bookham
Is a hog roast right for your wake?
Some families mix a hog roast with cakes brought by friends. Published UK guides give a wide range for hog roast catering, from around £10 a head for a basic roll to £20 or more with sides and service. We quote every event individually, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Why Great Bookham hosts choose us
- Self-contained: roaster, cover and serving kit
- Cooked on the day, low and slow
- A choice of salads and potatoes
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
See how we price or our hog roast cost guide.
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away