Kent · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Shipbourne
Planning a hog roast for the wake in Shipbourne? We bring the roaster to you, cook outdoors under cover and our staff serve at the time you choose.
- Remembrance gatherings
- Family meals after a funeral
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
A hog roast near Shipbourne
Planning the wake in Shipbourne
The family can spend time with guests.
However big or small the event in Shipbourne, a hog roast feeds a crowd well. We’re often asked to cater:
- Church and village hall wakes
- Ashes ceremonies
- Anniversary memorials
- Gatherings at the family home
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is Borough Green & Wrotham station, roughly 3.3 miles north of the centre.
Questions to ask before booking
- How dietary needs are handled
- How many staff will carve and serve
- Travel and any London charges
- What crockery is supplied
How our funeral wake catering works in Shipbourne
We keep things simple for families: a short conversation, a clear quote and a calm service on the day. For celebrations of life and home wakes, we can cook roast pork in rolls or on plates, rotisserie chicken and halloumi skewers and more.
In rural Shipbourne, home or the hall is usual, with the roaster in the yard or garden. Your quote spells out what’s included: the date, the serving time, the menu and the plates, with no surprises on the day.
Allergies and dietary needs
Not everyone eats pork, so plan an alternative. A few pointers:
- Stuffing typically contains gluten
- Halal is not offered, so arrange it separately
- Plates are easier for older guests than rolls
- Count anyone who does not eat pork
If the service runs late, we wait.
Rotisserie chicken is a good alternative for those who do not eat pork.
The process
When we arrive, we set up the roaster on the agreed spot, put the cover up and start the roast. It then roasts slowly for several hours, worked back from your serving time. In late September, sunset in Shipbourne is about 7:00pm; in December, about 3:55pm, so we plan lighting for later gatherings.
- Share the date, place and numbers.
- We reply quickly with a price.
- The roast cooks while you are at the service.
- Food is ready as guests gather.
- We pack up quietly.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level outdoor spot ready
- Ensure we can wheel the roaster to the spot
- Measure the narrowest gate or passage
Ask for a quote
A quote from us sets out the menu, timings, staffing and what’s included, so it is easy to compare like for like. Fill in our quote form.
Related guides
What we serve, dish by dish
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
A plant-based burger or sausage covers vegans, in a roll, with salad on the side.
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw suits roast pork, while salads and potatoes make a plated meal.
Shipbourne: your questions answered
How far is Shipbourne from London?
About 24 miles from central London.
Which station is closest to Shipbourne?
The closest is Borough Green & Wrotham station, roughly 3.3 miles away.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from the numbers you give us, and we will confirm everything in writing.
Can we hire the machine and cook it ourselves?
We do, if you’re happy to roast and carve yourself. Ask and we will talk you through it.
Can you cook inside a hall or marquee?
The roaster always stays outside, under cover, at a safe distance from walls and tents. Serving inside is frequently possible, with the venue’s agreement.
Do you come to Shipbourne?
Yes, Shipbourne is in our area. Tell us the venue or postcode and we will confirm availability.
What should we provide?
Very little: an outdoor cooking spot and someone to meet us.
Do you provide china?
Plates come as standard. China crockery is available on request and quoted separately.
Why choose a hog roast in Shipbourne?
If the hall or pub provides food, check whether we can cater there. Most of the cost is the meat, the staff and the time on site. A long, slow roast means an early start, which is built into the price.
Why us?
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside
- The classics: stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Timed around your day
- Sides to make it a full meal
Take a look at our pricing and the cost guide.
Prices and what affects them
We work out each quote from:
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- Access to the cooking area
- How long the roast and service take
- Numbers
When comparing prices, compare the same things: menu, sides, serving time, staff, plates and travel. A cheaper headline price can leave things out.
What to tell us
When you enquire, it helps to include:
- Roughly how many people
- Dietary requirements
- The date and time of the event
- Any venue rules
For a quote, send us a few details: your date, your venue or postcode, how many people and any menu choices. Fill in our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, it helps to think about where the roaster will go. We look for:
- The venue’s agreement to a gas-fired roaster
- Clearance from walls and branches
- A level spot outdoors for the roaster
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
From the roaster
- Rotisserie chicken
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Salads
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- New potatoes
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Coleslaw
- Hog roast rolls
Shipbourne: halls, homes and travel
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. We are happy to travel to Shipbourne for wakes and the places nearby. We cater 922 places across Kent. Our nearest city page is London, about 24 miles away.
If the funeral is at a church such as Church of St Giles, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Shipbourne; tell us about access if the wake is somewhere rural.
For wakes in TN11, we just need to know where the roaster can cook and roughly how many guests. Local streets include Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane; a wake on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. We also bring hog roasts to wakes in Budds (1 mile west), Yopps Green (1 mile north), Sheet Hill (2 miles north), Ivy Hatch (2 miles north) and Coldharbour (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (3 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Shipbourne include Barden Lake.
- Schools near Shipbourne include Hugh Christie Technology College (2.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Chaser Public House (under half a mile west)
For planners, venues and organisers
Marquee hire companies frequently have rules about cooking near their tents, so tell them a hog roast is coming. The roaster stays a safe distance from the marquee.
Planning on behalf of a committee? One clear contact makes everything easier, especially on the day.
Nearby places to Shipbourne
Other occasions in Shipbourne
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Carved by our chef into rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside the pork
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards