Reading · England
Funeral Wake Catering for Shinfield
From the hours of slow roasting to the last roll, a hog roast for the wake turns the food into a centrepiece of your wake in Shinfield.
- Family meals after a funeral
- Wakes in village halls
- One-year memorials
Slow-roasted pork in Shinfield
Funeral wake catering in Shinfield, slow-roasted on site
A wake might be at home, a village or church hall, a club or a pub. We need an outdoor spot to cook, and the food can be served inside. For pub and club wakes and gatherings after scattering ashes, we will put together a menu of rotisserie chicken, new potatoes and salads.
In Shinfield, the hall is often where people gather. You’ll know what’s included before you book: the date, the serving time, the menu and the plates, with no surprises on the day.
Is a hog roast right for your wake?
Some families mix a hog roast with cakes brought by friends. Distance is part of the price: travel is included in your quote. Tell us the exact address for an accurate figure.
Why book with us
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside
- All the equipment comes with us
- Planned to your running order
- Fresh carving at the serving station
Take a look at our prices page and the cost guide.
Occasions we serve in Shinfield
We serve calmly and clear away discreetly.
Here’s what people in Shinfield most frequently book a hog roast for:
- Anniversary memorials
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Hall gatherings after a service
- Memorial events
Relatives arriving by train should know that Reading Green Park station, about 2.6 miles north-west, is the nearest station.
Comparing caterers
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
- What the price includes, item by item
- Who carves and who serves
- Whether plates or china are included
How we price a hog roast for the wake
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- Numbers
- How easy it is to reach the spot
- Time on site
When comparing prices, compare the same things: the menu, sides, service time, staffing, crockery and travel. A cheaper headline price can leave things out.
What to tell us
The more we know, the more accurate the quote. Useful details:
- Any dietary needs or allergies
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- Rough numbers
- The date and time of the event
Send us the date, the address or RG2 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time. We will confirm availability and send a price. Send us your details through our quote form.
Planning for dietary needs
You’ll get allergen information for everything we serve. To make the most of it:
- Give us numbers for the alternatives
- Plates are easier for older guests than rolls
- Count anyone who does not eat pork
- Ask for gluten-free rolls if needed
We serve when people arrive, quietly and respectfully.
Ask about china, quoted separately.
The process
The roaster is gas-fired, so cooking does not depend on mains power; a nearby socket helps with lights if service runs into the evening. In winter, it’s dark in Shinfield by about 3:55pm, so for an afternoon wake, light near the serving area and the door helps. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- Contact us when the date is set.
- We check the cooking spot with the venue.
- We cook on site.
- We serve quietly.
- We leave the venue tidy.
Before we arrive
- Collect dietary needs and allergies in advance
- Plan a step-free way in for the equipment
- Keep the spot clear of buildings, marquee walls and overhanging branches
How to get a price
When you’re weighing up caterers, check what each quote actually includes. We spell it out in ours. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Before you choose a spot
The roaster needs the right spot, because it cooks outside for several hours, and a little planning goes a long way:
- A friend or relative we can call
- A level outdoor area
- Space inside for guests
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Shinfield
- Coleslaw
- Salads
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- New potatoes
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Hog roast rolls
- Vegan option (Ve)
Arranging a wake in Shinfield
Shinfield is about 3 miles south of Reading, in Reading. Wakes in Shinfield are part of our patch, as well as the surrounding area. Shinfield is one of 34 towns and villages in Reading where we cater.
For a service at a church like Church of St Mary the Virgin, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Wherever your wake is in RG2, we can bring the roaster to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Teal Grove, Songbird Close and Skylark Way; a wake on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. We also bring hog roasts to wakes in Ryeish Green (1 mile south-west), Whitley Wood (1 mile north-west), Three Mile Cross (1 mile west), Great Lea Common (1 mile west) and Arborfield (2 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Caversham (5 miles north), Norcot (5 miles north-west), West Reading (4 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (5 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (3 miles south-east) and Caversham Heights (5 miles north). Being one of Reading’s larger places, Shinfield has lots of places with room for a hog roast.
Other landmarks nearby include Berkshire Library & Museum of Freemasonry (2.9 miles north-east) and Royal Berkshire Hospital (3.1 miles north). Open spaces near Shinfield include Longwater and Sonning Hill.
- Schools near Shinfield include Oakbank (0.7 miles west) and Ryeish Green School (0.7 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find Bell & Bottle pub (within half a mile south-east)
Places near Shinfield
Also in Shinfield
Planners, venues and businesses
Marquee suppliers typically set distances for cooking equipment, so tell them a hog roast is coming. We’ll keep the roaster well clear of the marquee.
Planning on behalf of a committee? One clear contact makes everything easier, particularly when timings shift.
Shinfield questions
Could you cook in Pearman's Copse?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and tell us what they say.
We are gathering after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin: 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. Send us the address.
Is there an alternative to pork?
There are chicken, vegetarian and vegan alternatives. We do not offer halal meat.
What happens after service?
We clear the serving area and pack away, leaving the spot as we found it.
How long does the roast need?
It depends on the size of the hog and the weather, but it’s several hours. You will know our arrival time in advance.
Where does the hog roast go?
A flat, open spot outside, plus a step-free route to wheel the equipment in. A photo helps.
Can you cater at home?
Homes, halls, clubs and venues, given an outdoor cooking area.
Do you come to Shinfield?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Shinfield and Reading. Tell us the venue and we’ll quote.
A closer look at the menu
Stuffing and apple sauce
A spoonful of apple sauce and a slice of stuffing make the roll, just as they should.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Not everyone eats meat, so halloumi and vegetable skewers make sure they’re not left with just salad.
- Cooked where you are, slowly, over several hours outdoors
- Carved by our chef into rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards