East Sussex · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Shortgate
Something for nearly everyone: hog roast rolls, lamb, rotisserie chicken, halloumi skewers and a vegan option, with salads and potatoes on the side. Book a hog roast for the wake in Shortgate.
- Memorial gatherings
- Scattering-of-ashes gatherings
- Celebrations of life
Planning an event in Shortgate?
How the day works
The roaster cooks outdoors, under a gazebo on level ground, well clear of walls, tents and trees. We’ll agree the spot with you beforehand. Summer evenings in Shortgate stay light until about 9:15pm, so a garden gathering works well.
- Tell us the date, venue and rough numbers.
- We confirm availability and send a simple quote.
- The roast cooks while you are at the service.
- We serve calmly as people arrive.
- We pack up quietly.
How to prepare
- Check there’s a route to wheel the equipment in, without steps
- Have a level outdoor spot ready
- Confirm numbers ahead of the day
Get a quote
To get a quote, just send us your date, venue and numbers. A picture of where the roaster could go helps us check the space. Use our quote form.
Read more
Funeral wake catering in Shortgate, slow-roasted on site
If the service runs late, we wait: a cooked roast can be held for a while. Give us a contact for the day. We are often asked to cater gatherings at clubs and pubs and family meals after a funeral, serving rotisserie chicken, salads and halloumi skewers.
For a wake near Shortgate, a farmhouse or village hall frequently works well. Plates come as standard, with china available if you’d like it, at an extra cost.
- Area
- Shortgate (BN8)
- Region
- East Sussex
- On the menu
- Pork, crackling, stuffing and apple sauce in rolls
- Extras
- Chicken, lamb, halloumi skewers and a vegan option
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Space, access and the venue
Before the day, it helps to think about where the roaster will go. We look for:
- Clearance from walls and branches
- Space inside for guests
- Permission from the hall or venue
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Shortgate
- Salads
- Hog roast rolls
- Coleslaw
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
- New potatoes
Places near Shortgate
More for events in Shortgate
Working with your venue
Marquee hire companies frequently have rules about cooking near their tents, so tell them a hog roast is coming. We will keep the roaster well clear of the marquee.
Some venues add a fee for outside caterers, so check before booking. We will liaise with them on access and set-up.
A closer look at the menu
Stuffing and apple sauce
A spoonful of apple sauce and a slice of stuffing turn a pork roll into a hog roast roll, just as they should.
Rotisserie chicken
Chicken off the rotisserie, carved or jointed can be served in a roll or on a plate alongside the pork.
Prices and what affects them
The biggest factors are:
- Menu choices and extras
- The serving time and how long we are on site
- Plates or china
- Numbers
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 are paying for.
What to tell us
The more we know, the more accurate the quote. Useful details:
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the cooking area
- The venue or postcode
- Dietary requirements
Every wake is quoted on its own, based on numbers, menu, timings and distance. Tell us about your wake for a quote: send us your details through our quote form.
Arranging a wake in Shortgate
Shortgate is about 4 miles south of Uckfield, in East Sussex. Planning a hog roast for the wake in Shortgate? We can help. Shortgate is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cater. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 12 miles away.
Shortgate is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Wakes anywhere in BN8 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster and roughly how many guests. Close by, we cover wakes in Halland (1 mile north-east), East Hoathly (2 miles east), Whitesmith (2 miles east), Chiddingly (3 miles east) and Framfield (4 miles north). Further out, we also cater in Eastbourne (12 miles south-east), Seaford (10 miles south), Lewes (6 miles south-west), Hailsham (7 miles south-east), Crowborough (10 miles north) and Newhaven (9 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Uckfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north) and Tickerage Castle (4.1 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Cliffe Hill and Malling Down.
Your questions about a hog roast for the wake in Shortgate
Is Shortgate close to London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London.
Which station is closest to Shortgate?
The closest is Uckfield station, roughly 3.9 miles away.
Can you cater for vegetarians?
We can add lamb or chicken, plus halloumi skewers for vegetarians and a vegan burger or sausage. Halal meat is not something we offer.
What’s included?
Rolls with roast pork, stuffing, apple sauce and crackling. Extras include lamb, chicken, halloumi skewers, a vegan option, salads and potatoes.
What about guests who do not eat pork?
We can add alternatives.
Do you serve rolls or plates?
Either: plates with sides or simple rolls.
Where does the hog roast go?
A level, open area outdoors with room for the roaster, a gazebo and a carving table, away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging trees. We will check it with you before booking.
What happens after service?
We pack everything away after service, so you’re not left with the mess.
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Standard rolls and stuffing contain gluten, and gluten-free rolls are available on request. Other tips:
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten, so check the allergen list
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
- Ask close family about dietary needs
- Halal is not offered, so arrange it separately
We clear away discreetly once everyone has eaten.
If there was a favourite dish from our menu, tell us.
Planning the wake in Shortgate
There are options for those who don’t eat pork.
Lots of different events suit a hog roast in Shortgate. Here are some of the most popular:
- Celebration-of-life gatherings
- Hall gatherings after a service
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Gatherings at clubs and pubs
Relatives arriving by train should know that Uckfield station, about 3.9 miles north, is the nearest station.
Questions to ask before you book
- The full menu and the sides
- If the price includes VAT
- Whether plates or china are included
- When payments are due and what happens if plans change
A hog roast compared with other options
If the venue has its own caterer, check whether we can cater there. Most of the cost is the meat, the staff and the time on site. Slow roasting means we are on site for much of the day, and the quote reflects that.
Why Shortgate hosts choose us
- An itemised quote
- Our staff serve and clear
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
- We bring everything to cook and serve
Read our pricing and the cost guide.
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away