Reading · England
Hog Roast for a Wake in Play Hatch, Reading
Plenty of choice: hog roast rolls, lamb, rotisserie chicken, halloumi skewers and a vegan option, with salads and potatoes on the side. Funeral wake catering in Play Hatch.
- One-year memorials
- Family meals after a funeral
- Remembrance gatherings
Slow-roasted pork in Play Hatch
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what affects the price:
- The number of people
- Travel to Play Hatch
- How long the roast and service take
- Menu choices and extras
What you pay covers the meat, the chef and staff, and hours of roasting. Slow roasting means we are on site for much of the day, and the quote reflects that.
What we need to know
To check availability and the cooking area, tell us:
- The venue or postcode
- Dietary requirements
- Where the roaster could go, ideally with a picture
- Rules from the venue or landowner
It is easy to get a price: tell us when, where, how many and what time you’d like to eat. We will reply with a clear price and what’s included. Use our quote form.
How our funeral wake catering works in Play Hatch
For a celebration of life, a hog roast can reflect the person being remembered. Tell us what matters to you and we’ll do our best. We serve new potatoes, roast pork in rolls or on plates and apple sauce, and we’re regularly asked to cater life celebrations and gatherings after a cremation.
Near Play Hatch, wakes are frequently at home or in the hall. Tell us about lanes and the ground. Everything we need to roast, carve and serve comes with us, and we pack away and leave the area as we found it.
Organising for someone else?
Venues often have rules for outside caterers, from approved lists to where a gas roaster can go. Ask early, and tell us what they ask for.
Marquee hire companies often have rules about cooking near their tents, so let them know about the roaster. We’ll keep the roaster well clear of the marquee.
After a funeral in Play Hatch
Play Hatch is about 1 mile east of Caversham, in Reading. We cover wakes in Play Hatch. We cover all 34 towns and villages in Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
For family travelling by train, Reading station is about 2.2 miles away.
Anywhere in RG4, we can roast on site for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Dene Close, Henley Road and Foxhill Lane or anywhere nearby, we can set up and roast there. Neighbouring places where we cater wakes include Dunsden Green (1 mile north), Caversham Park Village (1 mile west), Littlestead Green (1 mile north-west), Emmer Green (1 mile west) and Sonning (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Norcot (4 miles west), West Reading (3 miles south-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles west), Shinfield (5 miles south), Arborfield Garrison (7 miles south) and Horncastle (5 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include The Oracle (2.4 miles south-west) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Alder Moors and South Lake.
- Local schools include Reading Blue Coat School (1 mile south-east) and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.8 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Shoulder of Mutton pub (less than half a mile south-west)
Play Hatch questions
How far is Play Hatch from London?
About 36 miles from central London.
We’re gathering after a service at St Andrew's Church: can you cater?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby with an outdoor spot for the roaster. Churches rarely have space for a hog roast, so the food is generally elsewhere. Tell us where you will gather.
Is it a sit-down meal?
Both are possible: plates with sides or simple rolls.
Is there a non-pork option?
Add lamb, chicken, halloumi and vegetable skewers or a vegan option. We do not offer halal meat.
What space does the roaster need?
A level, open area outdoors with room for the roaster, a gazebo and a carving table, well clear of walls, tents and branches. We will confirm the space with your quote.
How big a hog will we need?
The roast is chosen to suit how many you’re feeding, so a good estimate matters. We will confirm the menu in the quote.
What happens in bad weather?
We cook under a gazebo, so rain is not a problem for the roast. Somewhere covered for people to eat helps.
What if things run late?
We will be as flexible as we can. Give us a contact on the day and we will adjust.
A hog roast or other catering?
Compared with sandwich platters, hot food feels more caring, especially in colder months. Distance is part of the price: travel is included in your quote. Give us the address for an accurate figure.
Why Play Hatch hosts choose us
- Salads, potatoes and coleslaw to go with it
- Our staff serve and clear
- Rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
Take a look at our pricing or our hog roast cost guide.
Allergies and dietary needs
Allergies and dietary needs are easy to manage if we know in advance. Some ideas:
- Stuffing typically contains gluten
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
- Check with family about dietary needs
- Count anyone who doesn’t eat pork
We arrive in good time and roast quietly, out of the way of arriving guests.
Ask for gluten-free rolls if needed.
Planning the cooking spot
A good cooking spot makes the day run smoothly. Look for:
- Approval from the landlord or committee
- Somewhere indoors for people to eat
- A level spot outdoors for the roaster
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- New potatoes
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Coleslaw
- Hog roast rolls
- Salads
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Rotisserie chicken
What happens on the day
The roaster cooks outdoors, under a gazebo on level ground, well clear of walls, tents and trees. We agree exactly where before the day. Autumn and winter afternoons in Play Hatch get dark early: about 7:05pm in late September and 3:55pm in December, so we plan lighting for later gatherings.
- Contact us when the date is set.
- We check the cooking spot with the venue.
- We set up and roast on the day.
- Our staff serve without fuss.
- We tidy up and go.
Getting ready for the day
- Check there is nothing overhead or close by that could catch the heat
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Let us know about tight access
How to get a price
Every quote lists the menu, the serving time, staff and plates, so you can compare caterers fairly. Use our quote form.
Related guides
The menu, dish by dish
Roast pork
The hog roasts slowly for hours, so the meat is tender and juicy, and our chef carves it to order.
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
For vegans, there is a vegan burger or sausage in a roll, so everyone has something hot.
Towns and villages near Play Hatch
Also in Play Hatch
Occasions we serve in Play Hatch
It feeds everyone at once, so people can eat and share memories.
However big or small the event in Play Hatch, a hog roast feeds a crowd well. Bookings frequently include:
- Pub and club wakes
- Memorial events
- Remembrance days
- Home wakes
For a service at a church like St Andrew's Church, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Comparing caterers
- The full menu and the sides
- How they handle allergens and dietary needs
- Payment terms and cancellation policy
- A clear list of what’s included
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Our team serves at your chosen time and clears up afterwards