Reading · England
Funeral Wake Catering for Whitley Wood
From the hours of slow roasting to the last roll, a hog roast for the wake makes the food part of your wake in Whitley Wood.
- Scattering-of-ashes gatherings
- One-year memorials
- Hall gatherings after a service
A hog roast near Whitley Wood
Whitley Wood questions
What’s the nearest station to Whitley Wood?
Reading Green Park station, about 1.9 miles north-west of the centre.
Could you cook in Pearman's Copse?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them first.
Is mains power needed?
The roaster runs on gas, so we don’t need mains power to cook. A socket nearby is useful for lighting.
Do you serve the food?
No need for your own staff: our chef carves and our team serves and clears.
How big a hog will we need?
The roast is chosen to suit how many you are feeding, so tell us your best estimate. The quote sets it out.
Do you cover Whitley Wood?
Yes, Whitley Wood is in our area. Send us the address and we’ll check the date.
Do you offer gluten-free rolls?
Ask for gluten-free rolls and we’ll bring them. We’ll give you full allergen information for every dish.
Can you cater a wake at short notice?
We do our best at short notice. Send the date and venue and we will reply promptly.
Funeral wake catering near Whitley Wood
A wake might be at home, a village or church hall, a club or a pub. Wherever it is, the roaster cooks outdoors under cover, and we serve indoors where the venue allows. We serve halloumi skewers, apple sauce and new potatoes, and typical bookings are for life celebrations and family meals after a funeral.
Around Whitley Wood, wakes are frequently at the village hall, a pub or home. Let us know where the roaster could go. Plates come as standard, with china available if you’d like it, at an extra cost.
What the cooking area needs
The cooking area is the main thing to plan. Check these:
- A safe distance from the hall
- Vehicle access near the cooking area
- A friend or relative we can call
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
What we serve
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Hog roast rolls
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Coleslaw
- Salads
- New potatoes
- Stuffing and apple sauce
Why a carved hog roast beats a buffet
Compared with sandwich platters, hot food feels more caring, especially in colder months. Distance is part of the price: we include travel in the quote. Give us the address for an accurate figure.
Why us?
- Our staff serve and clear
- Planned to your running order
- Choices for people who don’t eat pork
- All the equipment comes with us
Take a look at our pricing and our hog roast cost guide.
Planning for dietary needs
Not everyone eats pork, so plan an alternative. A few pointers:
- Find out who would prefer chicken or a vegetarian option
- Ask for gluten-free rolls if needed
- Remember stuffing normally contains gluten, so check the allergen list
- Tell us about vegetarians and vegans
Our staff are discreet and respectful throughout.
China crockery is available on request, quoted separately.
Also near Whitley Wood
Also in Whitley Wood
A closer look at the menu
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Our vegetarian option is halloumi and vegetable skewers: squeaky, salty cheese with colourful veg, in a roll or on a plate.
Rotisserie chicken
Rotisserie chicken is there for anyone who’d rather not have pork, and it suits fussy eaters.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote depends on:
- Numbers
- Site access
- The serving time and how long we are on site
- Which meats and sides you choose
Extras such as lamb, chicken, more sides or china crockery add to the cost, so each one is itemised. Keeping it simple keeps it affordable.
Details that help
Here’s what we will ask:
- Which meats and sides you’d like
- Anything the venue has asked for
- Dietary requirements
- Rough numbers
Every wake is quoted on its own, based on numbers, menu, timings and distance. Ask us for a quote for your wake: send us your details through our quote form.
What happens on the day
We cook on a gas-fired roaster, so we don’t need mains power to cook; a nearby socket helps with lights if service runs into the evening. Most wakes in Whitley Wood are held in the afternoon, so light is rarely a problem, but by late December it is dark at about 3:55pm.
- Share the date, place and numbers.
- We reply quickly with a price.
- We roast quietly during the service.
- Food is ready as guests gather.
- We pack up quietly.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Send final numbers in good time
- Collect dietary needs and allergies in advance
Getting a price
The quickest way to get a price is to send us your date, venue and numbers. A picture of where the roaster could go helps us check the space. Fill in our quote form.
Related guides
For event organisers in Whitley Wood
Some venues add a fee for outside caterers, so it’s worth asking first. We’ll liaise with them on access and set-up.
For workplace bookings, check with facilities about gas equipment and vehicle access. We’ll fit in with site rules.
Arranging a wake in Whitley Wood
Whitley Wood is about 2 miles south-west of Earley, in Reading. We bring a hog roast for the wake to wakes anywhere in Whitley Wood, given a suitable outdoor cooking area. Whitley Wood is one of 34 places in Reading we cover.
If relatives are coming by rail, Reading Green Park station is about 1.9 miles away. After a service at St Paul's Church, a wake at a hall or home close by means less travelling for everyone.
Wherever your wake is in RG2, RG7 and RG6, we can bring the roaster to you. Streets in the area include Tidman Road, Church Lane and Spencer Road, and a wake on any of them works with a garden, drive or yard for the roaster. Whitley Wood sits on or near the M4, so getting the roaster to your wake is simple. Other places close to Whitley Wood we cover include Whitley (1 mile north), Great Lea Common (1 mile south-west), Shinfield (1 mile south-east), Three Mile Cross (1 mile south-west) and Ryeish Green (1 mile south). We also serve nearby towns such as Caversham (4 miles north), Norcot (4 miles north-west), West Reading (3 miles north-west), Tilehurst Within (4 miles north-west), Arborfield Garrison (4 miles south-east) and Caversham Heights (4 miles north). Whitley Wood is one of the larger places we cover in Reading, with plenty of venues for wakes.
A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (2.4 miles north) and The Oracle (2.6 miles north). The countryside around Whitley Wood includes Sonning Hill and Longwater.
- Schools near Whitley Wood include John Madejski Academy (0.6 miles north) and Crosfields School (0.7 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Six Bells pub (within half a mile south-east)
- Other local spots include University of Reading library (1.8 miles north-east)
Planning the wake in Whitley Wood
Alternatives are available.
We’re regularly asked to cater all sorts of events around Whitley Wood, such as:
- Scattering-of-ashes gatherings
- Remembrance days
- Church and village hall wakes
- Home wakes
Whitley Wood is on or near the M4, handy for relatives driving in.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and any London charges
- How they handle allergens and dietary needs
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
- The deposit, balance and cancellation terms
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Carved by our chef into rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards