Kent · England
Hog Roast Catering in Shipbourne, Kent
Looking for a hog roast in Shipbourne? We bring the roaster to you, cook outdoors under cover and carve when you’re ready to eat.
- Weddings and receptions
- Garden parties and barbecues
- Festive gatherings
Hog roast hire in Shipbourne
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Standard rolls and stuffing contain gluten, so ask for gluten-free rolls if you need them. A few more tips:
- Give us numbers for vegetarians and vegans for the halloumi skewers and vegan option
- Remember that stuffing generally contains gluten, so ask for the allergen list
- We don’t offer halal meat, so arrange that separately if it’s needed
- Ask us to keep the vegetarian food separate and labelled
Name someone to meet us, who can show us the cooking spot and pass on any changes.
China crockery is available on request, quoted separately.
Hog roast hire for your event in Shipbourne
A hog roast is one of the simplest ways to feed a crowd in Shipbourne: a single slow roast, carved to order. We bring the roaster, the cover and the serving kit, and we serve and tidy up afterwards. We serve salads, rotisserie chicken and new potatoes, and typical bookings are for garden parties and barbecues and weddings, day or evening.
Somewhere as small as Shipbourne, a field, yard or garden is frequently the spot. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives, and level, firm ground is the key. Our chef carves in front of your guests, so the pork is hot and the crackling is crisp, and nothing sits in a hot cabinet.
What comes off the roaster
Rotisserie chicken
Golden rotisserie chicken goes into rolls or onto plates alongside the pork.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
For vegetarians, halloumi and vegetable skewers are cooked separately from the meat, a hot, filling option of their own.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens, car parks, yards and fields work with a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- A level patch of lawn, patio or hardstanding
- Vehicle access close to the cooking area
- The venue’s agreement to a gas-fired roaster
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
From the roaster
- Roast or jacket potatoes
- Spit-roast lamb
- Hog roast rolls
- Rotisserie chicken
- Salads
- Coleslaw
- New potatoes
- Crackling
- Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
- Stuffing
- Apple sauce
- Halloumi skewers (V)
Catered or do it yourself?
You could roast a hog yourself, but it’s a long day’s work, from early set-up to carving at the end. A catered hog roast means you can enjoy the day.
The hardest part of a DIY hog roast is timing: a whole hog takes hours, and it needs to be cooked through safely. If you’d rather not worry about it, let us cook.
For event organisers in Shipbourne
Marquee hire companies frequently have rules about cooking near their tents, so let them know about the roaster. The roaster stays a safe distance from the marquee.
If you’re booking for a workplace, ask your facilities team about outside caterers and gas cooking. We work to the site’s rules.
The process
When we arrive, we set up the roaster on the agreed spot, put the cover up and start the roast. It then roasts slowly for several hours, timed so it’s ready when you want to eat. Late September evenings in Shipbourne lose the light at about 7:00pm, and at Christmas it comes at about 3:55pm. After dark, a lit path to the food makes a difference.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get an availability check and a clear quote.
- Timings and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We roast slowly on site, then carve for your guests.
- Our staff serve and clear, then we pack away.
Getting ready for the day
- Check there’s a route to wheel the equipment in, without steps
- Collect dietary needs and allergies in advance
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
Ask for a quote
Send us the date, the address or TN11 postcode and rough numbers, along with your serving time. We’ll confirm availability and send a price. Fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Why choose hog roast hire in Shipbourne?
A roll needs no knife and fork, which makes a hog roast ideal for relaxed events, while plates and sides suit a sit-down meal.
Whatever the occasion in Shipbourne, a slow roast goes a long way. Bookings often include:
- Summer garden parties
- Clubhouse events
- Festive gatherings
- Weddings and receptions
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Borough Green & Wrotham station, about 3.3 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- What crockery is supplied
- The deposit, balance and cancellation terms
- Where the roaster goes and what it needs
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
Bringing a hog roast to Shipbourne
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. We cover events in Shipbourne, along with the towns and villages around it. We bring hog roasts to 922 places in Kent, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is London, about 24 miles away.
Parks such as Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve normally need permission from the council or landowner for any cooking, so check first. For a christening or gathering after a service at a church such as Church of St Giles, the roaster can be set up at a hall or home nearby. Shipbourne is within about 8 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.
For events in TN11, we just need to know where the roaster can cook and a serving time. Local streets include Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane; an event on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. Close by, we cover events in Budds (1 mile west), Yopps Green (1 mile north), Sheet Hill (2 miles north), Ivy Hatch (2 miles north) and Coldharbour (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Maidstone (11 miles east), Dartford (14 miles north), Sevenoaks (5 miles north-west), Royal Tunbridge Wells (8 miles south), Gravesend (13 miles north) and Tonbridge (3 miles south).
A little further out are Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). The countryside around Shipbourne includes Barden Lake.
- Nearby schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (2.3 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Chaser Public House (under half a mile west)
Common questions in Shipbourne
Is Shipbourne close to London?
Roughly 24 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
We’re gathering after a service at Church of St Giles: can you cater?
Yes, at a home, hall or venue nearby with an outdoor spot for the roaster. Food is normally served at the reception venue rather than the church. Tell us where you’ll gather.
Is our garden big enough?
It depends on the space and access more than size. Describe the space and we’ll tell you honestly.
Do we need to provide electricity?
Cooking is gas-fired, so no mains power is needed for the roast. Power can help with lighting after dark.
What should we sort out beforehand?
The agreed cooking area, access for our equipment and someone to meet us. We bring everything else.
Do you come to Shipbourne?
We do. Tell us the venue or postcode and we will confirm availability.
Can we hire the machine and cook it ourselves?
Yes, for confident cooks. Ask and we’ll talk you through it.
How much does a hog roast cost?
It depends on numbers, the menu and how long we are on site. Send us the details and we will quote.
Why a carved hog roast beats a buffet
The obvious catch is that a hog roast is pork. So we offer lamb, chicken and vegetarian and vegan choices too for anyone who doesn’t eat it. Midweek and quieter months are frequently easier to book, and the menu you choose makes a difference too. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest what works.
Why book our hog roast in Shipbourne
- An itemised quote
- Slow-roasted at your venue, not reheated
- Served at the time you choose
- Carved to order by a chef
See our prices page and what a hog roast costs.
Also near Shipbourne
What else we do in Shipbourne
- 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
- Served when you’re ready, and we tidy the serving area afterwards