Reading · England
Hog Roast for a Wake in Sonning Common, Reading
From the first smell of roasting pork to the last piece of crackling, a hog roast for the wake makes the food part of your wake in Sonning Common.
- Anniversary memorials
- Memorial events
- Ashes ceremonies
Funeral wake catering for Sonning Common
Sonning Common: your questions answered
Is Sonning Common close to London?
About 38 miles from central London.
Can you cater after a service at The Church of Christ the King?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with room to cook outside. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you’ll gather.
Where does the hog roast go?
Roughly the footprint of a gazebo or two, on level ground, away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging trees. We will check it with you before booking.
How long does the roast need?
It depends on the size of the hog and the weather, but it is several hours. We’ll confirm our arrival time when we quote.
Is crockery included?
Plates are included. China is available at an extra cost.
Can you be flexible on serving time?
Within reason, we can. Keep us posted on the day and we’ll adjust.
Is it a sit-down meal?
Plates come as standard, and china is available on request.
How quickly can you cater a wake?
Frequently, yes. Contact us when the date is set and we will tell you quickly.
Funeral wake catering in Sonning Common, slow-roasted on site
For a celebration of life, a hog roast can reflect the person being remembered. Tell us what matters to you and we’ll do our best. For memorial gatherings and wakes at a local club, we will put together a menu of salads, new potatoes and halloumi skewers for your guests.
In Sonning Common, the hall or the family home is a natural choice. Tell us about outdoor space for the roaster. You will know what’s included before booking: serving times, the menu, staff and anything else agreed, with no surprises on the day.
How we price a hog roast for the wake
Each booking is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The journey to the venue
- How long the roast and service take
- Crockery choices
- Numbers
Published UK guides give a wide range for hog roast catering, from around £10 a head for a basic roll to £20 or more with sides and service. Every event gets its own quote, with everything listed.
What to tell us
Good details mean a good quote. Useful details:
- Where the roaster could go, ideally with a picture
- Dietary requirements
- The date and when you’d like to eat
- Roughly how many people
For a quote, send us a few details: the date and serving time, the venue or RG4 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Fill in our quote form.
The process
The roaster cooks outdoors, under a gazebo on level ground, well clear of walls, tents and trees. We agree exactly where before the day. In late September, sunset in Sonning Common is about 7:10pm; in December, about 3:55pm, so we plan lighting for later gatherings.
- Share the date, place and rough numbers.
- We confirm availability and send a price.
- We set up and roast while you are at the service.
- We serve when everyone arrives, calmly and without fuss.
- Afterwards we pack up quietly.
Before we arrive
- Think about shelter for your guests
- Name a contact for the day
- Check there is nothing overhead or close by that could catch the heat
Ask for a quote
Send us the date, the address or RG4 postcode and rough numbers, plus when you’d like to eat. We’ll check the date and send a quote. Send us your details through our quote form.
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About the food
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Choose from salads, new potatoes, coleslaw and roast or jacket potatoes, depending on the season and the occasion.
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
Let us know numbers for the vegan option, and we will plan the vegan burgers or sausages.
Events we cater in Sonning Common
Nobody in the family has to cook or serve.
Lots of different events suit a hog roast in Sonning Common. Typical bookings include:
- Ashes ceremonies
- Anniversary memorials
- Celebrations of life
- Remembrance gatherings
Families holding a service at The Church of Christ the King frequently gather afterwards at a nearby hall, where the roast can be ready.
Before you book anyone
- How long the roast takes and when they’ll arrive
- Who carves and who serves
- Which meats, sides and extras are included
- When payments are due and what happens if plans change
Nearby places to Sonning Common
Also in Sonning Common
Before you choose a spot
Planning the cooking spot is the key. A quick checklist:
- A short route for the equipment
- One contact on the day
- 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 Sonning Common
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Hog roast rolls
- Coleslaw
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- New potatoes
- Salads
Planning for dietary needs
Not everyone eats pork, so plan an alternative. Helpful tips:
- Ask us to label the vegetarian food
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten
- Halal isn’t offered, so arrange it separately
- Give us numbers for the alternatives
If the service runs late, we wait.
Rotisserie chicken is a good alternative for those who do not eat pork.
Why a carved hog roast beats a buffet
If the hall or pub provides food, ask whether outside caterers are allowed. Weekday and off-season dates can be easier to book, and the menu you choose matters too. Tell us your budget and we will suggest what works.
Why book with us
- Sides to make it a full meal
- Fresh carving at the serving station
- Self-contained: roaster, cover and serving kit
- Serving and clearing done for you
Take a look at our prices page or our hog roast cost guide.
Working with your venue
Booking for a club or group? A single point of contact keeps things simple, particularly when timings shift.
If you’re booking for a workplace, check with facilities about gas equipment and vehicle access. We work to the site’s rules.
After a funeral in Sonning Common
Sonning Common is about 3 miles north of Caversham, in Reading. Our roaster is a regular sight at wakes around Sonning Common. We cater 34 places across Reading, from the larger towns to small villages.
For family travelling by train, the nearest station is Henley-On-Thames station, about 3.7 miles east.
Anywhere in RG4 and RG9, we can bring the roaster to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater a wake on streets such as Wood Lane, Green Lane and Woodbury Close, as long as there’s somewhere outside to cook. Nearby, we also cater wakes in Peppard Hill (1 mile north-west), Rotherfield Peppard (1 mile north), Kidmore End (1 mile south-west), Kingwood Common (1 mile north-west) and Shepherd's Green (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Caversham (3 miles south), Norcot (4 miles south-west), West Reading (4 miles south), Tilehurst Within (5 miles south-west), Shinfield (8 miles south) and Arborfield Garrison (10 miles south). Sonning Common is among the bigger towns we cover in Reading, with lots of choice for wakes.
A little further out are Frazer Nash Archives (3.8 miles east) and Battle Hospital (4.1 miles south). The countryside around Sonning Common includes Sonning Hill and Warburg Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (0.5 miles south-west) and The Warwick School (0.5 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include Hare & Hounds pub (within half a mile north)
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Freshly carved pork with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away