Southampton · England
Hog Roast Catering in Shirley, Southampton
Planning a hog roast in Shirley? We bring the roaster to you, cook outdoors under cover and our staff serve at the time you choose.
- Staff days and open days
- Christmas parties
- Summer garden parties
A hog roast near Shirley
How the day works
Serving is straightforward: the chef carves and the team serves, and sides go out at the same time. When everyone has eaten, we clear up and leave the spot tidy. Around midsummer it stays light in Shirley until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is usually in daylight. For winter events, dark by about 4:00pm, we need light by the roaster and the serving table.
- You share the when, where and how many.
- We check the space and quote.
- We get the roaster going hours before you eat.
- The chef carves and the team fills rolls or plates.
- We pack away and leave you to it.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us about narrow gates or side passages
- Name a contact for the day
- Have a level outdoor spot ready
Getting a price
For a quote, send us a few details: your date, your venue or postcode, how many people and any menu choices. Send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Hog roast hire for your event in Shirley
Booking a hog roast means you do not have to cook. We arrive hours before you eat, set up under cover and roast slowly, then carve and serve at the time you choose. Whether it’s christmas parties and wedding breakfasts and evening food, we will put together a menu of new potatoes, coleslaw and crackling and more.
In a smaller place like Shirley, a hog roast in the garden is often the simplest option: plenty of room, no hire fees and nobody stuck in the kitchen. Let us know how we reach the garden. You will know what’s included before you book: serving times, the menu, staff and anything else agreed.
- Location
- Shirley (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- Area hub
- Southampton
- From the roaster
- Roast pork rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Also available
- Chicken, lamb, halloumi skewers and a vegan option
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 26 October 2026
Should I cook it myself?
Roasting a whole hog yourself is possible, but it takes hours of attention, from early set-up to carving at the end. With us catering, you get to be a host, not a cook.
A DIY hog roast suits a relaxed party where someone enjoys cooking. For weddings and bigger events, a catered roast is usually easier.
Organising for someone else?
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, a PA or on a committee, let us know who we will deal with on the day. We will keep everyone in the loop.
Event organisers frequently ask caterers for paperwork such as a risk assessment. Tell us what you need and we will confirm what we can provide.
FAQs for Shirley
Do you cater at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules for caterers; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
How far is Shirley from London?
Roughly 70 miles from the centre of London.
What if it rains?
We roast under cover, so the food isn’t affected. Plan somewhere sheltered for eating.
Is all of Southampton covered?
Southampton is part of our area, including Shirley. Contact us for a price.
Do you cook it or do we?
Either: fully catered, where we roast, carve and serve, or DIY machine hire. Catering is the most popular choice.
Will people get crackling?
Of course: slow roasting crisps the skin and we break it up for everyone.
Can we have lamb or chicken?
Add lamb or rotisserie chicken alongside the pork. Vegetarian and vegan options are available too.
How do we prepare?
Only the space and a contact number. We bring the roaster, cover and serving kit.
Prices and what affects them
Things that change the price:
- The serving time and how long we’re on site
- Busy dates such as summer Saturdays
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- How easy it is to reach the spot
Midweek and quieter months are often easier to book, and the menu you choose makes a difference too. Tell us your budget and we will suggest what works.
Details that help
To check the date and the space, we will need:
- The venue or postcode
- Allergies we should know about
- A picture of the cooking area
- Anything the venue has asked for
Every event is quoted on its own, based on numbers, menu, timings and distance. Ask us for a quote for your event: fill in our quote form.
Nearby places to Shirley
More for events in Shirley
Planning the cooking spot
It’s worth planning the cooking area in advance. We look for:
- Flat outdoor ground for the roaster and a gazebo
- Space away from buildings, marquee walls and overhanging branches
- Parking near the spot
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Shirley
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Apple sauce
- Vegan burger or sausage (Ve)
- Coleslaw
- Roast or jacket potatoes
- Salads
- Spit-roast lamb
- Crackling
- Hog roast rolls
- New potatoes
- Rotisserie chicken
- Stuffing
Shirley: venues, access and local tips
Shirley is about 2 miles west of Southampton, in Southampton. Planning a hog roast in Shirley? We cover the whole area. We cater 40 places in Southampton.
PTAs at schools such as Wordsworth Primary School frequently look for a hot-food stall for fairs and sports days. After a service at Shirley Parish Church, the hog roast can be ready at a nearby hall or house. The New Forest National Park is within about 8 miles of Shirley, and some venues there have rules about cooking and vehicles on site. Check your venue’s rules on outside caterers. Shirley is within about 3 miles of the sea, and coastal sites can be windy. We think about wind when choosing the cooking spot and putting up the cover.
Events anywhere in SO15, SO16 and SO17 start with an outdoor spot for the roaster and roughly how many guests. From May Road, Dyer Road and York Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the roaster to you. Shirley is on the A3057, so it’s easy for us to reach with the equipment. Close by, we cover events in Regents Park (1 mile west), Freemantle (1 mile south), Millbrook (1 mile south-west), Coxford (1 mile north-west) and Maybush (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Townhill Park (3 miles east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles south-east). Shirley is among the bigger towns we cover in Southampton, with plenty of venues for events.
A little further out are Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (1 mile south-east). Green spaces nearby include Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Regents Park Community College (within half a mile west) and Millbrook Community School (1.3 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Crown Public House (within half a mile north-west)
Allergies and dietary needs
Allergies and dietary needs are easy to manage if we know in advance. Some ideas:
- Ask about allergies when you send invitations
- Put the menu on the invitation
- If anyone needs halal food, plan a separate option
- Request gluten-free rolls for coeliac guests
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We get there early, cook, carve and serve, and our staff clear the serving area afterwards.
Gluten-free rolls are available on request.
Why a carved hog roast beats a buffet
A hog roast has one downside: it is pork. That is why we offer lamb, chicken, halloumi skewers and a vegan option for anyone who doesn’t eat it. The main driver is numbers: the price per head generally falls as numbers rise, since much of the cost is fixed.
Why book our hog roast in Shirley
- A clear quote with everything listed
- Rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Carved to order by a chef
- Staff to serve, so you do not have to
See how we price or what a hog roast costs.
The menu, dish by dish
Rolls and gluten-free rolls
Rolls make a hog roast easy to eat anywhere. We can bring gluten-free rolls if you ask.
Stuffing and apple sauce
A spoonful of apple sauce and a slice of stuffing make the roll, just as they should.
- Slow-roasted on site for hours, outdoors at your event
- 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