Kent · England
Hog Roast for a Wake in Hawkenbury, Kent
We bring a hog roast for the wake across Hawkenbury and Kent, roasting on site and carving to order, with our staff looking after the serving.
- Wakes at home
- Memorial events
- Celebration-of-life gatherings
Planning an event in Hawkenbury?
Funeral wake catering in Hawkenbury, slow-roasted on site
A wake in Hawkenbury is a chance to gather, talk and share a warm meal. Roast pork in a roll or on a plate is comforting and familiar, and nobody in the family has to cook. Typical bookings include family meals after a funeral and gatherings at clubs and pubs, serving roast pork in rolls or on plates, new potatoes and salads.
In Hawkenbury, the hall is often where people gather, and its grounds suit the roaster. We bring plates as standard, and china crockery is available on request, quoted separately.
Where the roaster can go in Hawkenbury
We need room to cook safely and under cover. Things to check:
- A level outdoor area
- Parking close by for our vehicle
- Somewhere indoors for people to eat
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Hawkenbury
- New potatoes
- Coleslaw
- Salads
- Rotisserie chicken
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
Step by step
The secret is time: hours of gentle heat make the pork soft and juicy while the skin crisps into crackling. It rests for a short while before carving. In late September, sunset in Hawkenbury is about 7:00pm; in December, about 3:55pm, so we plan lighting for later gatherings.
- 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.
- We serve quietly.
- We tidy up and go.
How to prepare
- Check there’s nothing overhead or close by that could catch the heat
- Name a contact for the day
- Ensure we can wheel the roaster to the spot
How to get a price
We need a few details to quote: the date and serving time, the venue or TN2 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Use our quote form.
Related guides
What comes off the roaster
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
For vegans, there is a vegan burger or sausage in a roll, so everyone has something hot.
Rolls and gluten-free rolls
Rolls or plates? Rolls are quicker; plates suit a sit-down meal, with gluten-free rolls on request.
Wakes in Hawkenbury: venues and practical details
Hawkenbury is about 1 mile south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. We bring a hog roast for the wake to wakes anywhere in Hawkenbury, as long as there is an outdoor spot to cook. Hawkenbury is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cater. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 27 miles away.
Families holding a service at St Peter's Church frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the roast can be ready. Hawkenbury is within about 5 miles of the High Weald National Landscape; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
Wakes anywhere in TN2 and TN1 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster. That could mean a wake in a garden on Forest Road, Nelson Road and Dorset Road or the roads around them, wherever there is an outdoor spot for the roaster. Neighbouring places where we cater wakes include Royal Tunbridge Wells (1 mile north-west), Broadwater Down (1 mile west), Bells Yew Green (2 miles south-east), High Brooms (2 miles north) and Rusthall (2 miles north-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (15 miles north-east), Sevenoaks (12 miles north), Tonbridge (5 miles north), Kings Hill (12 miles north-east), Paddock Wood (6 miles north-east) and Park Wood (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital (1 mile north-west) and The Amelia (1 mile north-west). Open spaces near Hawkenbury include Broadwater Warren RSPB Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Skinners' Kent Academy (1.3 miles north-east) and The Skinners’ Kent Academy (1.4 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Hawkenbury pub (under half a mile south-west)
Is a hog roast right for your wake?
Compared with sandwich platters, hot food feels more caring, especially in colder months. Weekday and off-season dates can be easier to book, and the menu you choose matters too. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest what works.
Why book with us
- Salads, potatoes and coleslaw to go with it
- An itemised quote
- Rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Fresh carving at the serving station
Read our prices page or what a hog roast costs.
Common questions in Hawkenbury
Which station is closest to Hawkenbury?
The closest is Tunbridge Wells station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
Can you cater after a service at St Peter's Church?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with room to cook outside. Food is normally served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you will gather.
Can you roast in the rain?
We roast under cover, so the food isn’t affected. Your guests will want somewhere dry to eat.
Can you do gluten-free?
We can supply gluten-free rolls on request. You’ll get allergen details for everything.
Where can you serve a wake?
Homes, halls, clubs and venues, given an outdoor cooking area.
Do you bring plates?
Plates are included. You can upgrade to china if you prefer.
Do you do DIY hog roast hire?
DIY machine hire is available. We’ll explain what’s supplied and how it works when we quote.
What if the service runs late?
We wait: we hold the food until people arrive.
Towns and villages near Hawkenbury
More for events in Hawkenbury
Events we cater in Hawkenbury
The family can spend time with guests.
A hog roast suits a wide range of occasions in Hawkenbury. Here are some of the most popular:
- One-year memorials
- Gatherings after a cremation
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Memorial gatherings
For family travelling by train, Tunbridge Wells station, about 0.8 miles north-west, is the nearest station.
Questions to ask before booking
- How dietary needs are handled
- The space, cover and access they need
- If the price includes VAT
- Plates, china and cutlery
Planning for dietary needs
Most people love a hog roast, but it is pork. Here’s how to cover everyone:
- Ask us to label the vegetarian food
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten
- Count anyone who does not eat pork
We serve when people arrive, calmly and without fuss.
Ask about china.
For planners, venues and organisers
Organisers may ask for documents such as a risk assessment or gas safety information. Tell us what you need and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
For workplace bookings, ask your facilities team about outside caterers and gas cooking. We will fit in with site rules.
How we price a hog roast for the wake
Every booking is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Numbers
- Whether you want china
- How easy it is to reach the spot
- The journey to the venue
What you pay covers the meat, the chef and staff, and hours of roasting. Slow roasting means we’re on site for much of the day, which is built into the price.
Details that help
Here’s what we’ll ask:
- Roughly how many people
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs or allergies
- Your date and serving time
It is 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. Use our quote form.
- Cooked where you are, slowly, over several hours outdoors
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards