West Sussex · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Mackerel's Common
Something for nearly everyone: roast pork in rolls with stuffing and apple sauce, lamb or chicken, and halloumi and vegetable skewers, with salads and potatoes on the side. Book a hog roast for the wake in Mackerel's Common.
- One-year memorials
- Gatherings at the family home
- Remembrance gatherings
Book a hog roast in Mackerel's Common
How our funeral wake catering works in Mackerel's Common
We roast quietly on site while the service takes place, ready for when everyone comes back. We serve without fuss and clear up quietly. We serve new potatoes, halloumi skewers and salads, and typical bookings are for scattering-of-ashes gatherings and wakes in village halls.
In a small place like Mackerel's Common, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. We bring the roaster, the cover and everything we need to cook and serve, and we pack away and leave the area as we found it.
- Location
- Mackerel's Common (RH14)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Hog roast rolls, stuffing, apple sauce, crackling
- Also available
- Lamb, chicken, halloumi skewers (V), vegan option (Ve)
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 26 October 2026
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Standard rolls and stuffing contain gluten, and gluten-free rolls are available on request. A few more tips:
- Older guests may prefer food on plates
- Count anyone who doesn’t eat pork
- Give us numbers for the alternatives
- Ask us to label the vegetarian food
We hold the food if people are delayed.
Rotisserie chicken is a good alternative for those who do not eat pork.
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues set rules for outside caterers, from approved lists to where a gas roaster can go. Check early, and pass on anything they need from us.
For workplace bookings, check with facilities about gas equipment and vehicle access. We work to the site’s rules.
Questions from Mackerel's Common
Is Mackerel's Common too small for a hog roast?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and the cooking spot.
How far is Mackerel's Common from London?
Roughly 37 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Does the roaster have to be outside?
It cooks outside, under a gazebo, on a level spot. The food can be carried in and served indoors where the venue allows.
Do we need to provide electricity?
The roaster runs on gas, so we don’t need mains power to cook. A socket nearby is useful for lighting.
What if it rains?
We roast under cover, so the food is not affected. Your guests will want somewhere dry to eat.
Can we hire the machine and cook it ourselves?
Yes, we hire out the hog roast machine. We will confirm what comes with it and how to use it.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the roast to your numbers, so tell us your best estimate. We will confirm the menu in the quote.
What about guests who don’t eat pork?
There are lamb, chicken, vegetarian and vegan options: spit-roast lamb, rotisserie chicken, halloumi and vegetable skewers or a vegan burger or sausage. We don’t offer halal meat.
Events we cater in Mackerel's Common
If the service runs late, the food waits.
Our roaster has been booked for a wide mix of occasions near Mackerel's Common, such as:
- Home wakes
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings after a cremation
After a service at The Parish Church of St John the Baptist, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Before you book anyone
- How long the roast takes and when they’ll arrive
- The space, cover and access they need
- VAT, if it applies
- The menu, including sides and any extras
Why a carved hog roast beats a buffet
Next to a cold buffet, a warm plated meal is more comforting. Most of the cost is the meat, the staff and the time on site. Slow roasting means we are on site for much of the day, which is built into the price.
Why us?
- Halloumi skewers and a vegan option too
- Staff to serve, so you don’t have to
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
- Self-contained: roaster, cover and serving kit
Read how we price and our hog roast cost guide.
About the food
Rotisserie chicken
Chicken off the rotisserie, carved or jointed goes into rolls or onto plates alongside the pork.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Our vegetarian option is halloumi and vegetable skewers: grilled halloumi with vegetables, in a roll or on a plate.
What happens on the day
A hog roast is always cooked outside, on a level, open spot under cover, well clear of walls, tents and trees. We will agree the spot with you beforehand. Late-December sunset in Mackerel's Common is about 3:55pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the serving area and the door helps. In summer, there is daylight until about 9:20pm.
- Tell us the date, venue and rough numbers.
- We reply quickly with a price.
- We roast quietly during the service.
- Food is ready as guests gather.
- We clear away discreetly.
How to prepare
- Check there is nothing overhead or close by that could catch the heat
- Plan somewhere sheltered for people to eat if it rains
- Give us final numbers a week or so before
Ask for a quote
We price every booking individually, because numbers, menu, serving time and travel vary. Tell us about your wake for a quote: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning the cooking spot
A good cooking spot makes the day run smoothly. Ideally:
- Flat ground outside the hall or house
- A hall or room for eating
- One contact on the day
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- New potatoes
- Hog roast rolls
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Salads
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Coleslaw
Nearby places to Mackerel's Common
Also in Mackerel's Common
After a funeral in Mackerel's Common
Mackerel's Common is about 10 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Wakes in Mackerel's Common are part of our patch. We bring hog roasts to 371 places across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cater events right across the region, from Mackerel's Common to Guildford (about 14 miles away).
Relatives arriving by train should know that Billingshurst station, about 4.8 miles south-east, is the nearest station.
Here we cover the RH14 postcode area, and we can cater your wake anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater wakes in Kirdford (1 mile south), Plaistow (2 miles north), Ifold (2 miles north), Balls Cross (2 miles south-west) and Wisborough Green (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Horsham (10 miles east), Broadfield (15 miles east), Storrington (9 miles south-east), Billingshurst (5 miles east), Bewbush (15 miles east) and Angmering (15 miles south).
Open spaces near Mackerel's Common include The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.
What a hog roast costs
Things that change the price:
- The journey to the venue
- The serving time and how long we are on site
- Plates or china
- Menu choices and extras
For larger numbers, a hog roast is usually good value, because one whole roast feeds plenty of people. Extras, china and longer service add to it.
Details that help
The more we know, the more accurate the quote. Please include:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Roughly how many people
- Any extras, such as lamb, chicken or china
- Dietary requirements
Numbers not final yet? A rough figure is fine for a first quote, and you can confirm nearer the time. Use our quote form.
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Carved by our chef into rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away