Kent · England
Hog Roast for a Wake in Smarden, Kent
We bring a hog roast for the wake across Smarden and Kent, cooking slowly at your venue and serving it hot.
- Family meals after a funeral
- Memorial gatherings
- Life celebrations
A hog roast near Smarden
Funeral wake catering in Smarden, slow-roasted on site
Services can run over, and that’s fine: we’ll hold the food until people arrive. Name someone we can call on the day. We’re often asked to cater wakes in village halls and gatherings at the family home, serving new potatoes, halloumi skewers and roast pork in rolls or on plates.
In rural Smarden, home or the hall is usual, with the roaster in the yard or garden. We bring the roaster, the cover and everything we need to cook and serve, and we leave the spot tidy when we go.
What happens on the day
Service is quick once we start carving: our chef carves and our staff fill the rolls or plates, with the sides served alongside. Afterwards we clear the serving area and pack away. Wakes in Smarden are typically in the afternoon, which is daylight for most of the year, though in December it’s dark by about 3:50pm.
- You tell us the date, the venue, rough numbers and when people will arrive.
- You get a quick answer on the date, and a quote.
- We roast quietly while the service takes place.
- We serve when everyone arrives, calmly and without fuss.
- We clear away discreetly.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the cooking area is away from walls, tents and trees
- Give us a contact number for the day
- Think about shelter for your guests
Ask for a quote
A quote from us sets out the menu, timings, staffing and what’s included, so you can compare caterers fairly. Fill in our quote form.
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Places near Smarden
What else we do in Smarden
What we serve, dish by dish
Rolls and gluten-free rolls
Rolls make a hog roast easy to eat anywhere. We can bring gluten-free rolls if you ask.
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Sides include salads, coleslaw, new potatoes and roast or jacket potatoes, depending on the season and the occasion.
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Not everyone eats pork, so plan an alternative. A few pointers:
- Ask close family about dietary needs
- Halal is not offered, so arrange it separately
- Older guests may prefer food on plates
- Give us numbers for the alternatives
We hold the food if people are delayed; just let us know.
Serve on plates with salads and potatoes for a sit-down meal.
Events we cater in Smarden
It’s simple, warm, familiar food, which is what people want after a service.
We’re regularly asked to cater a wide mix of occasions near Smarden, including:
- Pub and club wakes
- One-year memorials
- Church and village hall wakes
- Life celebrations
For a service at a church like Church of St Michael, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests.
Comparing caterers
- The menu, including sides and any extras
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Any travel or access charges
- Whether plates or china are included
Where the roaster can go in Smarden
A good cooking spot makes the day run smoothly. Look for:
- Parking close by for our vehicle
- A friend or relative we can call
- Somewhere indoors for people to eat
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we serve
- Coleslaw
- New potatoes
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Salads
- Rotisserie chicken
- Stuffing and apple sauce
Arranging a wake in Smarden
Smarden is about 8 miles west of Ashford, in Kent. We cover wakes in Smarden. Smarden is one of 922 towns and villages in Kent where we cater. We cater events right across the region, from Smarden to Canterbury (19 miles away).
For anyone coming to the funeral by train, the closest railway station is Pluckley station, roughly 2.6 miles east of the centre. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Smarden, and rural venues there may have narrow lanes, so tell us about access.
Anywhere in TN27, we can bring the roaster to you. Your wake could be at a house on The Street, The Acorns and Water Lane, as long as there is somewhere outside to cook. For wakes just outside Smarden, we cover Biddenden Green (1 mile north-east), Smarden Bell (1 mile north-west), Monk's Hill (1 mile south-west), Swift's Green (1 mile north-west) and Standen (2 miles south-west). We also serve nearby towns such as Maidstone (11 miles north-west), Ashford (8 miles east), Sittingbourne (13 miles north), Faversham (14 miles north-east), Kings Hill (15 miles north-west) and Davington (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Romden Castle (1 mile east) and Benenden Hospital (5.3 miles south-west).
- Pubs nearby include The Chequers Inn (within half a mile south)
A hog roast compared with other options
Compared with a cold buffet, a warm plated meal is more comforting. Travel matters for the price: travel is included in your quote. Give us the address so the quote is accurate.
Why Smarden hosts choose us
- Lamb, chicken and vegetarian options alongside
- Self-contained: roaster, cover and serving kit
- Timed around your day
- No surprises: everything in writing
See our pricing or what a hog roast costs.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote depends on:
- Numbers
- Crockery choices
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- The serving time and how long we are on site
The main driver is numbers: bigger groups typically cost less per head, since much of the cost is fixed.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Allergies we should know about
- Your menu choices
- The venue or postcode
- Rules from the venue or landowner
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, plus when you’d like to eat. We’ll check the date and send a quote. Fill in our quote form.
For event organisers in Smarden
Planning on behalf of a committee? A single point of contact keeps things simple, particularly when timings shift.
Marquee hire companies often have rules about cooking near their tents, so let them know about the roaster. We will keep the roaster well clear of the marquee.
Common questions in Smarden
Can you do a hog roast at a venue in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about cooking and vehicles, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you come out to small places like Smarden?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
Can you do something else?
Yes, add chicken or a vegetarian option for those who need them.
What’s included?
Roast pork carved into soft rolls with sage and onion stuffing, apple sauce and crackling. Extras include lamb, chicken, halloumi skewers, a vegan option, salads and potatoes.
What happens in bad weather?
Rain doesn’t stop the cooking. A marquee, hall or barn for eating makes all the difference.
How much does a hog roast cost?
It depends on numbers, the menu and how long we’re on site. Send us the details and we will quote.
Is a week’s notice enough?
Frequently, yes. Contact us as soon as you have a date and we’ll answer right away.
Can you cater for vegetarians?
We can add lamb or chicken, plus halloumi skewers for vegetarians and a vegan burger or sausage. We don’t provide halal meat.
- Roasted slowly at your venue, outdoors and under cover
- Freshly carved pork with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Served by our staff at the time you choose, then cleared away