Kent · England
Funeral Wake Catering in Smarden Bell
Looking for a hog roast for the wake in Smarden Bell? We bring the roaster to you, cook outdoors under cover and our staff serve at the time you choose.
- Gatherings after scattering ashes
- Wakes at a local club
- Life celebrations
A hog roast near Smarden Bell
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a workplace, check with facilities about gas equipment and vehicle access. We work to the site’s rules.
Booking for a club or group? One clear contact makes everything easier, particularly when timings shift.
Funeral wake catering in Smarden Bell, carved to order
We know families have a lot to arrange: a short conversation, a clear quote and a calm service on the day. Whether it is wakes at home and family get-togethers after a service, we will put together a menu of roast pork in rolls or on plates, salads and new potatoes.
In a small place like Smarden Bell, a wake might be at home, in a barn or at the village hall. Let us know about access. We bring plates as standard, and china crockery is available on request, quoted separately.
Is a hog roast right for your wake?
Next to a cold buffet, a warm plated meal is more comforting. Midweek and quieter months are frequently easier to book, and the menu you choose makes a difference too. Ask us and we’ll suggest the best fit for your budget.
Why us?
- Sides to make it a full meal
- Self-contained: roaster, cover and serving kit
- Fresh carving at the serving station
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside
Take a look at our pricing or our hog roast cost guide.
Smarden Bell: your questions answered
We’re gathering after a service at Church of St Michael: 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.
Which station is closest to Smarden Bell?
The closest is Headcorn station, roughly 2 miles away.
When do you start roasting?
Several hours, depending on the size and the weather, so we arrive well before you want to eat. We work back from your serving time.
Do you leave the area tidy?
We pack everything away after service, and we take our equipment with us.
Can you cater in Smarden Bell?
We do. Send us the address and we’ll confirm availability.
Can the hog roast be cooked indoors?
It cooks outside, under a gazebo, on a level spot. Serving indoors is normally fine if the venue is happy.
Do you do DIY hog roast hire?
Yes, for confident cooks. Ask and we’ll talk you through it.
Is it a sit-down meal?
Either: rolls for a simple meal, plates with salads and potatoes for a fuller one.
What a hog roast costs
Things that change the price:
- Crockery choices
- Menu choices and extras
- How easy it is to reach the spot
- Numbers
What you pay covers the meat, the chef and staff, and hours of roasting. A long, slow roast means an early start, which is built into the price.
Details that help
The more we know, the more accurate the quote. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- Your menu choices
- The date and time of the event
- Any venue rules
We need a few details to quote: your date, your venue or postcode, how many people and any menu choices. Fill in our quote form.
Also near Smarden Bell
Also in Smarden Bell
Smarden Bell: halls, homes and travel
Smarden Bell is about 9 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We take a hog roast for the wake to homes, halls, workplaces and venues in Smarden Bell and the surrounding area. Smarden Bell is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cater. Our bookings stretch from Smarden Bell to Canterbury (20 miles away).
For family travelling by train, Headcorn station is about 2 miles away. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Smarden Bell, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
We bring hog roasts to wakes all over the TN27 postcode area and the streets around it. Your wake could be at a house on Bell Lane and Headcorn Road, as long as there’s somewhere outside to cook. We also bring hog roasts to wakes in Swift's Green (1 mile north), Smarden (1 mile south-east), Biddenden Green (1 mile east), Monk's Hill (1 mile south) and Lashenden (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Maidstone (10 miles north-west), Ashford (9 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (14 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Romden Castle (1.8 miles south-east) and Kent Firefighting Museum (2.8 miles south-west).
- Local pubs include The Bell Inn (under half a mile south)
What comes off the roaster
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Coleslaw is the natural partner for a pork roll, and salads and new potatoes work well on a plate.
Roast pork
The hog roasts slowly for hours, so the meat is tender and juicy, and our chef carves it to order.
What happens on the day
We get there well ahead of service, since slow roasting cannot be rushed. The smell usually brings people over long before we carve. Late-December sunset in Smarden Bell is about 3:50pm, so an afternoon wake in winter needs lighting by the food. Summer wakes have daylight well into the evening.
- You tell us the date, the venue, rough numbers and when people will arrive.
- We confirm availability and send a price.
- We set up and roast while you’re at the service.
- We serve quietly as people gather.
- We tidy up and leave without fuss.
Preparing for the day
- Name a contact for the day
- Have a covered area for eating in case of rain
- Have a level outdoor spot ready
How to get a price
Every quote lists the menu, the serving time, staff and plates, so you can compare caterers fairly. Fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning the cooking spot
Most outdoor spaces can work if a few things are right. Here’s what we look for:
- Space inside for guests
- A short route for the equipment
- A friend or relative we can call
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
From the roaster
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- New potatoes
- Salads
- Hog roast rolls
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Coleslaw
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
Occasions we serve in Smarden Bell
It feeds everyone at once, so people can eat and share memories.
Here’s what people in Smarden Bell most often book a hog roast for:
- One-year memorials
- Wakes in village halls
- Life celebrations
- Gatherings after a cremation
If the funeral is at a church such as Church of St Michael, a hall or home nearby keeps the journey to the wake short.
Questions to ask before booking
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
- What the cooking area needs: space, cover and access
- Whether travel is included
- If the price includes VAT
Planning for dietary needs
We give full allergen information for every dish. To help:
- Keep the alternatives labelled
- Halal isn’t offered, so arrange it separately
- Older guests may prefer food on plates
- Request gluten-free rolls
Name a friend or relative as our contact, so the family can focus on guests.
Ask about china.
- Slow-roasted on site for hours, outdoors at your event
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Not just pork: spit-roast lamb, chicken and vegetarian choices
- Our team serves at your chosen time and clears up afterwards