Medway · England
Hog Roast Hire in Hempstead
Roasted for hours, carved to order and served hot: a hog roast in Hempstead and the surrounding area.
- Gatherings after a funeral
- Corporate events
- Birthdays and anniversaries
Slow-roasted pork in Hempstead
Hempstead: venues, access and local tips
Hempstead is about 2 miles south of Gillingham, in Medway. Our roaster is a regular sight at events around Hempstead. We cover 68 places across Medway, from the larger towns to small villages. Our bookings stretch from Hempstead to Canterbury (23 miles away).
Historic houses near Hempstead include Restoration House (3.8 miles north-west) and Temple Manor (4.5 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on outside caterers and gas cooking early. For a fundraiser at a school like Hempstead Infant School, the roaster can cook on a pitch agreed with the school. Hempstead is within about 7 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, and some venues there have rules about cooking and vehicles on site. Ask your venue about gas cooking and access.
Here we cover the ME7 and ME8 postcode area. Local streets include Harrow Road, Spekes Road and Capstone Road; an event on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. You will find Hempstead on the A278, so it is easy for us to reach with the equipment. Nearby, we also cater events in Capstone (1 mile north-west), Darland (1 mile north-west), Wigmore (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north-west) and Park Wood (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Rochester (4 miles north-west), Strood (5 miles north-west), Hoo St Werburgh (5 miles north), Chatham Waterfront (3 miles north-west), Rochester Riverside (4 miles north-west) and Peters Village (5 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Pentagon Shopping Centre (3 miles north-west) and Medway megaliths (3.8 miles south-west). Within reach you’ll find Burham Down and Boxley Hills.
- Local schools include Rainham School for Girls (1.3 miles north-east) and Howard School (1.3 miles north-east)
How our hog roast hire works in Hempstead
Hiring a hog roast means a whole hog cooked slowly on site, over several hours, outdoors under cover. Then our chef carves it and the team serves it in rolls with sage and onion stuffing, apple sauce and crackling. We are frequently asked to cater weddings and receptions and village fêtes and school fairs, serving salads, spit-roast lamb and new potatoes.
For a place the size of Hempstead, your own garden is frequently the best venue: space to cook, no venue hire and no cooking for you. Tell us about access down the drive or side of the house. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will tell you exactly what’s in each dish.
About the food
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Not everyone eats meat, so halloumi and vegetable skewers ensure they’re not left with just salad.
Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
Our vegan option is a vegan burger or sausage, served in a roll with salads.
What happens on the day
A hog roast is always cooked outside, under a gazebo on level ground, well clear of walls, tents and trees. We will agree the spot with you beforehand. Because the roast takes hours, daylight is worth planning: in Hempstead, sunset is around 8:50pm in late May and 9:15pm in late June, while in December the light goes at about 3:50pm, so winter bookings need lighting from mid-afternoon.
- First, you send us your date, address, numbers and serving time.
- You get a check on the date and the spot, and a quote.
- On the day we arrive hours before serving and start the roast under cover.
- Our chef carves to order and our staff serve at the agreed time.
- We clear the serving area and pack away.
Getting ready for the day
- Choose a level, open spot outdoors for the roaster
- Measure the narrowest gate or passage
- Confirm numbers ahead of the day
Getting a price
Planning ahead? Popular dates fill up early, especially summer Saturdays and December Fridays. Send us your date for a quote: send us your details through our quote form.
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Events we cater in Hempstead
Most people love roast pork and crackling, and there are alternatives for everyone else.
We’re regularly asked to cater all sorts of events around Hempstead, such as:
- Parties at home
- Club events and presentations
- Wakes
- Birthdays and anniversaries
If you are gathering after a service at a church like All Saints Church, a nearby hall or garden suits a hog roast.
Comparing caterers
- Whether travel is included
- When payments are due and what happens if plans change
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
Prices and what affects them
We work out each quote from:
- The journey to the venue
- Plates or china
- Site access
- The date and time of year
For larger numbers, a hog roast is normally good value, since one roast goes a long way. The menu, extras such as china and the serving time all affect the final price.
Details that help
To check availability and the cooking area, we will need:
- Your date and serving time
- Any dietary needs or allergies
- Rough numbers
- Any venue rules
For a quote, send us a few details: the date and serving time, the venue or ME7 postcode, rough numbers and which extras you’d like. Use our quote form.
Catered or do it yourself?
You could roast a hog yourself, but it’s a long day’s work, from setting up and lighting the roaster to carving. With us catering, you get to be a host, not a cook.
You could go for a cold buffet, but hot, freshly carved roast pork is a different experience, especially outdoors.
Why choose a hog roast in Hempstead?
Next to a street-food van, a hog roast feeds a crowd quickly from one roast, with no waiting for individual orders to cook. 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?
- Served at the time you choose
- Carved to order by a chef
- No surprises: everything in writing
- Salads, potatoes and coleslaw to go with it
Take a look at our prices page or our hog roast cost guide.
Questions from Hempstead
Can you do a hog roast at a venue in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about cooking and vehicles, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Can you do a hog roast in South Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council, and many parks do not allow cooking. Check with them first.
What space does the roaster need?
A level, open area outdoors with room for the roaster, a gazebo and a carving table, away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging trees. We will confirm the space with your quote.
Will there be enough to go round?
The roast is chosen to suit how many you are feeding, so tell us your best estimate. The quote sets it out.
Can the hog roast be cooked indoors?
It cooks outside, under a gazebo, on a level spot. Serving indoors is usually fine if the venue is happy.
How long does a hog roast take to cook?
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.
Is there a non-pork option?
We can add lamb or chicken, plus halloumi skewers for vegetarians and a vegan burger or sausage. We don’t provide halal meat.
What meats can we have?
Add lamb or rotisserie chicken alongside the pork. Vegetarian and vegan options are available too.
What else we do in Hempstead
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Rolls and stuffing normally contain gluten, and gluten-free rolls are available on request. A few more tips:
- Find out who doesn’t eat pork, so we can bring lamb, chicken or vegetarian options
- Remember that stuffing typically contains gluten, so check the allergen information
- Tell guests what’s on the menu in advance
- We do not offer halal meat, so arrange that separately if it is needed
Everything for serving comes with us, so you only need to provide the space.
Prefer to cook yourself? Ask about DIY machine hire.
Planning the cooking spot
The cooking area is the main thing to plan. A quick checklist:
- Nothing overhead that could catch the heat
- A way to wheel the roaster to the spot
- The venue’s agreement to a gas-fired roaster
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
From the roaster
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Stuffing
- Hog roast rolls
- Roast or jacket potatoes
- Spit-roast lamb
- Apple sauce
- Coleslaw
- New potatoes
- Crackling
- Salads
- Rotisserie chicken
- Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
- Slow-roasted on site for hours, outdoors at your event
- Our chef carves the pork, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling on the side
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Our team serves at your chosen time and clears up afterwards