East Sussex · England
Funeral Wake Catering for Herstmonceux
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 Herstmonceux.
- Gatherings at clubs and pubs
- Remembrance days
- Family get-togethers after a service
Funeral wake catering for Herstmonceux
Funeral wake catering in Herstmonceux, slow-roasted on site
Funerals are typically 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. Typical bookings include family meals after a funeral and celebration-of-life gatherings, serving roast pork in rolls or on plates, rotisserie chicken and new potatoes.
Near Herstmonceux, wakes are often at home or in the hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Timings are planned around your wake, working back from when you want to eat.
- Where
- Herstmonceux (BN27)
- County
- East Sussex
- On the menu
- Roast pork rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Alongside
- Spit-roast lamb, rotisserie chicken, vegetarian and vegan options
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 27 October 2026
Planning the cooking spot
The roaster needs the right spot, because it cooks outside for several hours, and a little planning goes a long way:
- A level spot outdoors for the roaster
- Vehicle access near the cooking area
- Somewhere indoors for people to eat
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we serve
- Salads
- Coleslaw
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Vegan option (Ve)
- New potatoes
- Hog roast rolls
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
Planning the wake in Herstmonceux
If the service runs late, the food waits.
In Herstmonceux and nearby, we cater for all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Gatherings at clubs and pubs
- Family get-togethers after a service
- Home wakes
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
If the funeral is at a church such as Herstmonceux Free Church, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Before booking anyone
- Payment terms and cancellation policy
- What the price includes, item by item
- Travel and any London charges
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
How we price a hog roast for the wake
We do not use a fixed price list, since every event is different. The main factors are:
- Whether you want china
- How easy it is to reach the spot
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- How long the roast and service take
Extras such as lamb, chicken, more sides or china crockery add to the cost, so we list each one in the quote. Keeping it simple keeps it affordable.
What we need to know
When you enquire, it helps to include:
- Rough numbers
- Any dietary needs or allergies
- Where the event is
- Your date and serving time
We need a few details to quote: the date and serving time, the venue or BN27 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Use our quote form.
Is a hog roast right for your wake?
Next to sandwiches, hot food feels more caring. Travel matters for the price: we include travel in the quote. Give us the address for an accurate figure.
What you get with us
- Cooked on the day, low and slow
- Staff to serve, so you do not have to
- Sides to make it a full meal
- Choices for people who don’t eat pork
See our pricing or what a hog roast costs.
What we serve, dish by dish
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
Vegan guests can have a vegan burger or sausage, so nobody misses out.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
For vegetarians, halloumi and vegetable skewers are cooked separately from the meat, a hot, filling option of their own.
For planners, venues and organisers
Marquee hire companies often have rules about cooking near their tents, so let them know about the roaster. The roaster stays a safe distance from the marquee.
Organisers may ask for documents such as a risk assessment or gas safety information. Let us know what your event requires and we will tell you what we can send.
Wakes in Herstmonceux: venues and practical details
Herstmonceux is about 3 miles north-east of Hailsham, in East Sussex. Wakes in Herstmonceux are part of our patch, as well as the surrounding area. Herstmonceux is one of 289 towns and villages in East Sussex where we cater. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 20 miles away.
The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Herstmonceux; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
This part of East Sussex takes in BN27, so your wake can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Fairlawns Drive, Dacre Road and Fiennes Road; a wake on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. For wakes just outside Herstmonceux, we cover Chapel Row (1 mile south-east), Stunts Green (1 mile north-west), Flowers Green (1 mile south), Windmill Hill (1 mile east) and Golden Cross (1 mile south). We also serve nearby towns such as Eastbourne (7 miles south), Hastings (11 miles east), Bexhill-on-Sea (7 miles south-east), Seaford (12 miles south-west), Lewes (14 miles west) and Hailsham (3 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Amberstone Hospital (2 miles west) and Herstmonceux Castle (1.6 miles south-east).
- Local pubs include Woolpack Inn (under half a mile south-east)
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Not everyone eats pork, so plan an alternative. A few pointers:
- Give us numbers for the alternatives
- Older guests may prefer food on plates
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten, so check the allergen list
- Plan separately if anyone needs halal food
Afterwards we pack up quietly.
Rotisserie chicken is a good alternative for those who don’t eat pork.
Herstmonceux: your questions answered
Do you cater at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for caterers; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is Herstmonceux too small for a hog roast?
No, we come to small places too. Let us know about access and the cooking spot.
What happens in bad weather?
Rain does not stop the cooking. A marquee, hall or barn for eating makes all the difference.
Can you do something else?
We can add alternatives.
Is mains power needed?
The roaster runs on gas, so we do not need mains power to cook. Power can help with lighting after dark.
How long does the roast need?
Several hours, depending on the size and the weather, so we arrive well before you want to eat. We work back from your serving time.
What if people arrive late?
That is fine: we hold the food until people arrive.
What should we sort out beforehand?
Only the space and a contact number. Everything for roasting and serving comes with us.
How it works
Slow roasting is the whole point: the meat cooks gently until it is tender while the skin turns into crackling. Then it rests briefly before our chef carves. Late-December sunset in Herstmonceux is about 3:55pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting by the food. In summer, there’s daylight until about 9:15pm.
- Contact us as soon as you have a date.
- We confirm the space.
- We cook on site.
- Our staff serve without fuss.
- We leave the venue tidy.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Measure the narrowest gate or passage
- Ask about allergies and dietary needs beforehand
Get a quote
To get a quote, just tell us the date, where the wake is and roughly how many. A picture of the cooking area helps. Send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Also near Herstmonceux
Other occasions in Herstmonceux
- Slow-roasted on site for hours, outdoors at your event
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Served by our staff at the time you choose, then cleared away