East Sussex · England
Funeral Wake Catering in St Helen's
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 St Helen's.
- One-year memorials
- Memorial gatherings
- Family meals after a funeral
Funeral wake catering in St Helen's
Funeral wake catering in St Helen's, slow-roasted on site
If the service runs late, we wait: a cooked roast can be held for a while. Name someone we can call on the day. For church and village hall wakes and family meals after a funeral, we will put together a menu of apple sauce, salads and new potatoes and more.
Around St Helen's, wakes are often at the village hall, a pub or home. Tell us about outdoor space for the roaster. We bring plates as standard, with china available if you’d like it, at an extra cost.
- Area
- St Helen's (TN34, TN37)
- County
- East Sussex
- On the menu
- Hog roast rolls, stuffing, apple sauce, crackling
- Alongside
- Chicken, lamb, halloumi skewers and a vegan option
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
FAQs for St Helen's
Can you roast near the sea around St Helen's?
Yes. Wind is something we plan for: a sheltered spot and secure cover.
Can you do a hog roast in Old Roar Gill and Coronation Wood?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them first.
What happens after service?
We clear the serving area and pack away, and leave the area tidy.
What if people arrive late?
We wait: we hold the food until people arrive.
What space does the roaster need?
A level, open area outdoors with room for the roaster, a gazebo and a carving table, well clear of walls, tents and branches. We will confirm the space with your quote.
Does the roaster have to be outside?
The roaster always stays outside, under cover, away from buildings and marquee walls. We can often serve indoors if the venue agrees.
How long does the roast need?
Several hours, depending on the size and the weather, which is why we arrive hours ahead. We plan the timings from when you want to eat.
How much does a hog roast cost?
Numbers, menu and travel decide the price. Tell us your date and we will send a price.
Where the roaster can go in St Helen's
The cooking area is the main thing to plan. Check these:
- A short route for the equipment
- A contact for the day who is not immediate family
- Permission from the hall or venue
Not sure about the cooking spot? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Rotisserie chicken
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Coleslaw
- Hog roast rolls
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Salads
- New potatoes
Arranging a wake in St Helen's
St Helen's is about 1 mile north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We are happy to travel to St Helen's for wakes and the places nearby. St Helen's is one of 289 places in East Sussex where we cater. We cater events right across the region, from St Helen's to Brighton (about 31 miles away).
For a service at a church like St Peter & St Paul, choosing a wake venue nearby helps older guests. The coast is within about 2 miles of St Helen's, and coastal halls can be breezy, so we choose a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of East Sussex takes in TN34 and TN37, and we can cater your wake anywhere in it. Local streets include Park Avenue, Keppel Road and Down's Road; a wake on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. Nearby, we also cater wakes in Blacklands (1 mile south), Hastings (1 mile south-west), Silverhill (1 mile south-west), Belmont (1 mile south-east) and Hollington (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Eastbourne (14 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (5 miles west), Hailsham (14 miles west), Polegate (15 miles west), Old Town (15 miles south-west) and Heathfield (15 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Priory Meadow Shopping Centre (1.2 miles south) and Hastings Old Town Hall Museum (1.3 miles south-east). Within reach you will find Church Wood and Robsack Wood and Senlac Hill.
- Nearby schools include William Parker Sports College (within half a mile west) and University School (1.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Duke pub (0.9 miles west)
Planning for dietary needs
We give full allergen information for every dish. To help:
- Plates are easier for older guests than rolls
- Plan separately if anyone needs halal food
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
- Keep the alternatives labelled
One contact for the day helps, so the immediate family is not disturbed.
Gluten-free rolls are available on request.
Why a carved hog roast beats a buffet
If the venue has its own caterer, ask whether outside caterers are allowed. 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 you get with us
- Slow-roasted at your venue, not reheated
- An itemised quote
- Planned to your running order
- Serving and clearing done for you
See our pricing or our hog roast cost guide.
How we price a hog roast for the wake
Things that change the price:
- How long the roast and service take
- Whether you want china
- Travel to St Helen's
- Numbers
Distance is part of the price: travel is included in your quote, with any London charges listed. Tell us the exact address for an accurate figure.
What to tell us
To get the best quote, send us:
- Allergies we should know about
- The address or postcode
- Any venue rules
- A photo of the cooking area
A quote from us sets out the menu, timings, staffing and what’s included, so it is easy to compare like for like. Use our quote form.
Towns and villages near St Helen's
What else we do in St Helen's
What we serve, dish by dish
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Add salads, coleslaw and potatoes to make it a proper meal, especially at a sit-down event.
Roast pork
We carve as we serve, so it stays hot and juicy right to the last roll.
Step by step
We roast under cover, so a shower won’t spoil the food. Your guests will still want somewhere dry to eat, such as a marquee, hall or barn. In late September, sunset in St Helen's is about 7:00pm; in December, about 3:55pm, so a later wake may need lighting outside.
- Share the date, place and rough numbers.
- We check the date and the cooking spot, then send a simple quote.
- We set up and roast while you are at the service.
- Food is ready when people arrive.
- We clear away discreetly.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us final numbers a week or so before
- Tell us about narrow gates or side passages
- Choose someone to meet us on arrival
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many people, along with your serving time. We will check the date and send a quote. Send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Occasions we serve in St Helen's
It copes with timings that shift.
A hog roast suits a wide range of occasions. Typical bookings include:
- Memorial gatherings
- Gatherings after a cremation
- Celebrations of life
- Hall gatherings after a service
Relatives arriving by train should know that Ore station, about 0.8 miles south-east, is the nearest station.
Comparing caterers
- Whether plates or china are included
- Allergen information for every dish
- The deposit, balance and cancellation terms
- Travel and any London charges
Working with your venue
Planning on behalf of a committee? A single point of contact keeps things simple, especially on the day.
Some venues add a fee for outside caterers, so it’s worth asking first. We’ll liaise with them on access and set-up.
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Options beyond pork, including lamb, chicken and vegetarian dishes
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards