West Sussex · England
Hog Roast for a Wake in River, West Sussex
Looking for a hog roast for the wake in River? The roaster comes to your venue, home or workplace and cooks under cover and carve when you are ready to eat.
- Family get-togethers after a service
- Celebration-of-life gatherings
- Church and village hall wakes
Slow-roasted pork in River
A hog roast compared with other options
Compared with a cold buffet, a warm plated meal is more comforting. Weekday and off-season dates can be easier to book, and the menu you choose matters too. Ask us and we will suggest the best fit for your budget.
Why us?
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
- The classics: stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- All the equipment comes with us
- Sides to make it a full meal
See our prices page and the cost guide.
Funeral wake catering in River, slow-roasted on site
A wake might be at home, a village or church hall, a club or a pub. Wherever it is, the roaster cooks outdoors under cover, and the food can be served inside. Whether it is memorial gatherings and church and village hall wakes, we will put together a menu of rotisserie chicken, apple sauce and roast pork in rolls or on plates for your guests.
For a wake near River, a farmhouse or village hall frequently works well. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will tell you exactly what’s in each dish.
- Where
- River (GU28)
- County
- West Sussex
- On the menu
- Hog roast rolls, stuffing, apple sauce, crackling
- Also available
- Chicken, lamb, halloumi skewers and a vegan option
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Why choose funeral wake catering in River?
Quiet, respectful service.
Whatever the occasion in River, a slow roast goes a long way. We’re frequently asked to cater:
- Celebrations of life
- Gatherings at the family home
- Church and village hall wakes
- Memorial gatherings
After a service at The Parish Church of St Peter, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Questions to ask before you book
- How they handle allergens and dietary needs
- Plates, china and cutlery
- When payments are due and what happens if plans change
- When they arrive and when the food will be ready
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Standard rolls and stuffing contain gluten, and gluten-free rolls are available on request. A few more tips:
- Keep the alternatives labelled
- Plates are easier for older guests than rolls
- Halal isn’t offered, so arrange it separately
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten
We hold the food if people are delayed; just let us know.
Ask about china.
Organising for someone else?
Some venues charge a fee if you bring in your own caterer, so it’s worth asking first. We’ll work with the venue on access and the cooking spot.
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.
The menu, dish by dish
Roast pork
Everything starts with the slow-roasted pork: carved in front of you, a mix of shoulder and leg, and served hot.
Rotisserie chicken
For guests who don’t eat pork, rotisserie chicken is the easy answer, and children usually like it too.
Wakes in River: venues and practical details
River is about 12 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. Our roaster is a regular sight at wakes around River, from gardens to fields. River is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cater. Our bookings stretch from River to Guildford (17 miles away).
River is within about 4 miles of the South Downs National Park; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
We cater wakes across the GU28 postcode area and the streets around it. Close by, we cover wakes in Upperton (1 mile east), Selham (2 miles south), Tillington (2 miles south-east), South Ambersham (2 miles south-west) and Hampers Green (2 miles east). We also serve nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (14 miles south), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (14 miles south-east), Rustington (15 miles south-east), Storrington (11 miles south-east) and Billingshurst (9 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Lodsworth Castle (1.3 miles south) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (3 miles south-east). Open spaces near River include Graffham Common and Blackdown.
- Nearby, you will find The Hollist Arms Public House (0.7 miles west)
What happens on the day
Rain does not stop the roast, because we cook under cover. Your guests will still want somewhere dry to eat, such as a marquee, hall or barn. For a summer wake in River, there is light until about 9:20pm, so people can spill into the garden.
- Tell us the date, venue and rough numbers.
- We confirm availability and send a simple quote.
- The roast cooks while you’re at the service.
- We serve calmly as people arrive.
- We pack up quietly.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the spot clear of buildings, marquee walls and overhanging branches
- Gather dietary requirements early
- Check there is a route to wheel the equipment in, without steps
Get a quote
When you are weighing up caterers, ask each one exactly what’s included. Ours lists it clearly. To get yours, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Prices and what affects them
Things that change the price:
- Distance from us
- How many people are eating
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- Site access
Published UK guides give a wide range for hog roast catering, from around £10 a head for a basic roll to £20 or more with sides and service. We quote every event individually, with everything listed.
Details that help
For a quick, accurate price, send us:
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Anything the venue has asked for
- The venue or postcode
- Your menu choices
For a quote, send us a few details: the date and serving time, the venue or GU28 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Send us your details through our quote form.
River questions
Is River close to London?
About 42 miles from central London, and well within our area.
We’re gathering after a service at The Parish Church of St Peter: can you cater?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with room to cook outside. Churches rarely have space for a hog roast, so the food is normally elsewhere. Tell us where you will gather.
Can you cater for vegetarians?
We can add lamb or chicken, plus halloumi skewers for vegetarians and a vegan burger or sausage. Halal meat isn’t something we offer.
Can you cater a wake at short notice?
We will always try. Send the date and venue and we will reply promptly.
What if things run late?
We work back from when you want to eat, and we can hold the roast for a while if the day runs behind.
Do you cover River?
Yes, River is in our area. Send us the address and we will check the date.
Do you provide china?
Plates come as standard. If you’d like china, ask and we will add it to the quote.
What’s included?
The classic: pork in rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling. Your quote lists any sides and extras.
Other occasions in River
Where the roaster can go in River
Before the day, it helps to think about where the roaster will go. The ideal spot has:
- A hall or room for eating
- A safe distance from the hall
- The venue’s agreement to a gas-fired roaster
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
From the roaster
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Coleslaw
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
- Rotisserie chicken
- Salads
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- New potatoes
- Cooked where you are, slowly, over several hours outdoors
- Freshly carved pork with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Served by our staff at the time you choose, then cleared away