Hampshire · England
Funeral Wake Catering for Portchester
Funeral wake catering in Portchester: a whole hog slow-roasted on site, carved to order and served in soft rolls with crackling.
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Pub and club wakes
- Celebrations of life
Planning an event in Portchester?
What we serve, dish by dish
Stuffing and apple sauce
No hog roast roll is complete without sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce, cutting through the richness of the pork.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Our vegetarian option is halloumi and vegetable skewers: squeaky, salty cheese with colourful veg, in a roll or on a plate.
How our funeral wake catering works in Portchester
Wakes are frequently arranged at short notice. Contact us as soon as you have a date, and we’ll give you a quick answer. We’re frequently asked to cater remembrance gatherings and gatherings at clubs and pubs, serving halloumi skewers, new potatoes and apple sauce.
In Portchester, the hall is often where people gather. The carving happens right in front of your guests, so the pork is hot and the crackling is crisp, and nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
Planning for dietary needs
Not everyone eats pork, so plan an alternative. A few pointers:
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
- Check with family about dietary needs
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten
- Ask us to label the vegetarian food
Name a friend or relative as our contact, so the immediate family isn’t disturbed.
China crockery is available on request, quoted separately.
A hog roast compared with other options
If the hall or pub provides food, ask whether outside caterers are allowed. Numbers make the biggest difference: the price per head typically falls as numbers rise, since much of the cost is fixed.
Why Portchester hosts choose us
- A choice of salads and potatoes
- Choices for people who do not eat pork
- Rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Carved to order by a chef
Read our prices page and our hog roast cost guide.
Also near Portchester
Other occasions in Portchester
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a workplace, check with facilities about gas equipment and vehicle access. We will fit in with site rules.
Marquee hire companies frequently have rules about cooking near their tents, so let them know about the roaster. We’ll keep the roaster well clear of the marquee.
Events we cater in Portchester
Alternatives are available.
Whatever the occasion in Portchester, a slow roast goes a long way. Bookings frequently include:
- Hall gatherings after a service
- Home wakes
- Memorial gatherings
- Wakes at a local club
Families holding a service at Church of St Mary frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the roast can be ready.
What to look for in a quote
- If the price includes VAT
- Travel and any London charges
- Staffing on the day
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Portchester: your questions answered
What about windy coastal sites?
Yes. Wind is something we plan for: a sheltered spot and secure cover.
How far is Portchester from London?
About 64 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you bring plates?
We supply plates as standard. China is available at an extra cost.
Do you need anything from the family?
Not much: an outdoor cooking spot and someone to meet us.
Can we just hire the roaster?
Yes, we hire out the hog roast machine. We will confirm what comes with it and how to use it.
When do you start roasting?
Hours rather than minutes. We’ll confirm our arrival time when we quote.
What do you need from us on the day?
A clear, level cooking spot, a route to wheel the equipment in and a contact for the day. We bring everything else.
Is a week’s notice enough?
Generally. Contact us as soon as you have a date and we will answer right away.
Planning the cooking spot
Planning the cooking spot is the key. Check these:
- Permission from the hall or venue
- Parking close by for our vehicle
- One contact on the day
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Salads
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Coleslaw
- Rotisserie chicken
- Hog roast rolls
- New potatoes
How it works
A hog roast is always cooked outside, under a gazebo on level ground, away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging branches. We agree exactly where before the day. In winter, it is dark in Portchester by about 4:00pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting by the food. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- It starts with the date, venue and when people are expected.
- We confirm availability and send a price.
- We roast quietly while the service takes place.
- We serve when everyone arrives, calmly and without fuss.
- We clear away discreetly.
Preparing for the day
- Check there’s nothing overhead or close by that could catch the heat
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Tell us about narrow gates or side passages
Get a quote
Send us the date, the address or PO16 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat. We’ll confirm availability and send a price. Fill in our quote form.
Read more
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what affects the price:
- Distance from us
- How many people are eating
- Access to the cooking area
- How long the roast and service take
UK price guides vary widely: roughly £10 a head for a simple roll, rising past £20 with more included. We quote every event individually, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Details that help
Good details mean a good quote. Useful details:
- A picture of the cooking area
- Rough numbers
- Any extras, such as lamb, chicken or china
- The address or postcode
For a quote, send us a few details: the date and serving time, the venue or PO16 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Use our quote form.
Wake catering near Portchester
Portchester is about 3 miles north-east of Gosport, in Hampshire. We are happy to travel to Portchester for wakes. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire. Our bookings stretch from Portchester to Southampton (13 miles away).
Relatives arriving by train should know that Portchester station is about 0.5 miles away. Portchester is within about 5 miles of the sea, and coastal halls can be breezy, so we choose a sheltered cooking spot.
Anywhere in PO16, PO6 and PO17, we can roast on site for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your wake is on Cow Lane, Hill Road and Ralph Road or a nearby road, we can set up and roast there. Neighbouring places where we cater wakes include Boarhunt (2 miles north-west), Southwick (2 miles north), Elson (2 miles south-west), Wallington (2 miles west) and Priddy's Hard (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Gosport (3 miles south-west), Havant (6 miles east), Eastleigh (13 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles west), Horndean (7 miles north-east) and Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Portchester Castle (under half a mile south-east) and Queen Alexandra Hospital (2.3 miles east). Within reach you will find West of the River Alver and Portsdown Hill.
- Schools near Portchester include Portchester Community School (under half a mile west)
- Nearby, you will find The Cormorant pub (under half a mile south-east)
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Not just pork: spit-roast lamb, chicken and vegetarian choices
- Our team serves at your chosen time and clears up afterwards