Surrey · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Merle Common
We bring a hog roast for the wake across Merle Common and Surrey, cooking slowly at your venue and serving it hot.
- Ashes ceremonies
- Life celebrations
- Memorial gatherings
Funeral wake catering for Merle Common
Funeral wake catering near Merle Common
Some families choose a hog roast because it was a favourite. Tell us what matters to you and we will do our best. We’re often asked to cater wakes at a local club and ashes ceremonies, with salads, halloumi skewers and apple sauce.
For a wake near Merle Common, a farmhouse or village hall often works well. We bring the roaster, the cover and everything we need to cook and serve, and we leave the spot tidy when we go.
What happens on the day
We get there well ahead of service, because a whole hog takes hours to roast. Your guests will smell it long before they see it. Wakes in Merle Common are typically in the afternoon, which is daylight for most of the year, though in December it’s dark by about 3:55pm.
- Share the date, place and rough numbers.
- You get a quick answer on the date, and a quote.
- We set up and roast while you’re at the service.
- Food is ready when people arrive.
- We clear away discreetly.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the cooking area is away from walls, tents and trees
- Plan somewhere sheltered for people to eat if it rains
- Make sure we can wheel the roaster to the spot
Ask for a quote
To get a quote, just tell us the date, where the wake is and roughly how many. A picture of where the roaster could go helps us check the space. Use our quote form.
Related guides
Organising for someone else?
Marquee suppliers generally set distances for cooking equipment, so tell them a hog roast is coming. The roaster stays a safe distance from the marquee.
If the event is on someone else’s land, you will need the landowner’s permission for cooking and vehicles. Sort that first.
Why choose funeral wake catering in Merle Common?
There are options for those who don’t eat pork.
Whatever the occasion in Merle Common, a slow roast goes a long way. We’re often asked to cater:
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Memorial events
- Celebration-of-life gatherings
- Anniversary memorials
If relatives are coming by rail, Hurst Green station is about 1.4 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- If the price includes VAT
- What crockery is supplied
- The menu, including sides and any extras
- Whether travel is included
Merle Common questions
What’s the nearest station to Merle Common?
Hurst Green station, about 1.4 miles north of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Merle Common?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
What about coeliacs?
We can supply gluten-free rolls on request. We’ll give you full allergen information for every dish.
Do we need to provide electricity?
Not to cook, because the roaster is gas-fired. Tell us what’s available and we’ll plan around it.
Do you cover Merle Common?
Yes, Merle Common is in our area. Send us the address and we will confirm availability.
Does the roaster have to be outside?
No, the roast is always cooked outdoors under cover, at a safe distance from walls and tents. Serving inside is often possible, with the venue’s agreement.
Is there a non-pork option?
We can add lamb or chicken, plus halloumi skewers for vegetarians and a vegan burger or sausage. We don’t provide halal meat.
What should we provide?
Just the venue, rough numbers and a contact for the day. We bring everything else.
Looking after everyone
With a bit of planning, dietary needs are easier to handle. A few tips:
- Keep the alternatives labelled
- Halal isn’t offered, so arrange it separately
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten
- Count anyone who doesn’t eat pork
Name a friend or relative as our contact, so the immediate family isn’t disturbed.
China crockery is available on request.
A hog roast compared with other options
Next to booking a function room menu, a hog roast at a hall is frequently simpler. The main driver is numbers: the price per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the roaster, staff and travel cost much the same either way.
Why book with us
- Choices for people who don’t eat pork
- Slow-roasted at your venue, not reheated
- A clear quote with everything listed
- We bring everything to cook and serve
See how we price and our hog roast cost guide.
What affects the price in Merle Common
Each booking is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- How many people are eating
- Access to the cooking area
- Menu choices and extras
- Time on site
Midweek and quieter months are often easier to book, and the menu you choose makes a difference too. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest what works.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Dietary requirements
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- Where the event is
- A photo of the cooking area
We need a few details to quote: the date and serving time, the venue or RH8 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Use our quote form.
What comes off the roaster
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Add salads, coleslaw and potatoes to make it a proper meal, especially at a sit-down event.
Roast pork
Hours of slow roasting make the pork soft and full of flavour, and our chef carves it to order.
Where the roaster can go in Merle Common
Planning the cooking spot is the key. A quick checklist:
- Vehicle access near the cooking area
- A level spot outdoors for the roaster
- Space inside for guests
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Merle Common
- Salads
- Rotisserie chicken
- New potatoes
- Coleslaw
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Hog roast rolls
- Stuffing and apple sauce
After a funeral in Merle Common
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. Our roaster is a regular sight at wakes around Merle Common, from gardens to fields. We cover all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 19 miles away.
Wakes anywhere in RH8 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster and a serving time. Other places close to Merle Common we cover include Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). The countryside around Merle Common includes Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
- Local schools include Oxted School (2.4 miles north)
Places near Merle Common
Other occasions in Merle Common
- Slow-roasted on site for hours, outdoors at your event
- 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