Kent · England
Wedding Hog Roast for Shipbourne
From the first smell of roasting pork to the last piece of crackling, a hog roast for your wedding makes the food part of your wedding in Shipbourne.
- Vow renewals and blessings
- Relaxed, low-key weddings
- Evening receptions
A hog roast near Shipbourne
Wedding hog roast in Shipbourne, slow-roasted on site
The carving station becomes a focal point: people gather round as the chef carves. It feels like an occasion. We’re frequently asked to cater blessings and renewals and weddings in a marquee, with spit-roast lamb, rotisserie chicken and halloumi skewers.
There is something special about a country wedding near Shipbourne, and slow-roasted pork carved for guests adds to it. Plan firm ground and a route for our vehicle. Plates come as standard, with china available if you’d like it, at an extra cost.
Common questions in Shipbourne
Is Shipbourne close to London?
Roughly 24 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Could you cook in Ivy Hatch Nature Reserve?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them first, and tell us what they say.
Can you cater for vegetarians?
There are lamb, chicken, vegetarian and vegan options: spit-roast lamb, rotisserie chicken, halloumi and vegetable skewers or a vegan burger or sausage. Please note we do not offer halal meat.
Will there be enough to go round?
We size the roast to your numbers, so tell us your best estimate. The quote sets it out.
Do you bring plates?
We supply plates as standard. China is available at an extra cost.
Can we hire the machine and cook it ourselves?
Yes, we hire out the hog roast machine. We’ll confirm what comes with it and how to use it.
How much does a hog roast cost?
Each event is priced on its own, depending on numbers, menu, timings and travel. Ask us for a quote.
How long does the roast need?
A whole hog roasts for several hours, so we arrive well before you want to eat. We work back from your serving time.
Why choose a hog roast in Shipbourne?
Next to other evening food, carving serves plenty of people fast. Compare like for like: menu, sides, serving time, staff, plates and travel. A cheaper headline price can leave things out.
Why book with us
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
- Our staff serve and clear
- An itemised quote
- Sides to make it a full meal
Read our prices page and our hog roast cost guide.
Nearby places to Shipbourne
What else we do in Shipbourne
What happens on the day
The roaster is gas-fired, so cooking doesn’t depend on mains power, though a socket nearby is handy for lighting. Golden-hour photos in Shipbourne at midsummer come around 9:20pm, so we can time the carving before or after your sunset photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:50pm, and in late September about 7:00pm.
- Tell us your date, venue and numbers.
- We check the venue’s rules and the date, then quote.
- We fit timings around your running order.
- The hog roasts through the afternoon; our chef carves on cue.
- Our staff serve and clear, then we leave quietly.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, open area outside for cooking
- Check there’s a route to wheel the equipment in, without steps
- Send final numbers in good time
Getting a price
Numbers not final yet? A rough figure is fine for a first quote, then confirm closer to the date. Fill in our quote form.
Read more
What we serve, dish by dish
Rolls and gluten-free rolls
We can serve in rolls or on plates, with gluten-free rolls on request.
Salads, potatoes and coleslaw
Crunchy coleslaw suits roast pork, and salads and new potatoes work well on a plate.
Occasions we serve in Shipbourne
No kitchen is needed at the venue, which suits marquees, barns and gardens.
Hosts in Shipbourne book us for everything from small get-togethers to big outdoor events. For example:
- Rustic barn receptions
- Anniversary vow renewals
- Wedding breakfasts
- Marquee receptions
It is worth telling train travellers that the nearest station is Borough Green & Wrotham station, about 3.3 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether plates or china are included
- How dietary needs are handled
- If the price includes VAT
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
Planning for dietary needs
Rolls and stuffing typically contain gluten, and gluten-free rolls are available on request. A few more tips:
- Confirm final numbers a week or so before
- Remember that stuffing generally contains gluten
- Count non-pork eaters, so we can add lamb, chicken or vegetarian options
- Put a dietary question on the invitation
Our staff serve and clear quietly, so the party carries on around us.
Ask for gluten-free rolls for any coeliac guests.
For event organisers in Shipbourne
For events on land you don’t own, such as a park or field, you will need the landowner’s permission for cooking and vehicles. Sort that first.
Some venues add a fee for outside caterers, so it’s worth asking first. We’ll liaise with them on access and set-up.
Shipbourne weddings: local tips
Shipbourne is about 3 miles north of Tonbridge, in Kent. Our roaster is a regular sight at weddings around Shipbourne, from gardens to fields. We cater 922 places across Kent. We cater events right across the region, from Shipbourne to London (24 miles away).
If you want countryside in your photos, Barden Lake isn’t far, and the countryside around Shipbourne suits an outdoor reception. Historic houses near Shipbourne include Ightham Mote (1.1 miles north-west) and Old Soar Manor (1.9 miles north-east). Historic houses and estates often have rules on outside caterers, so check early if that is your venue. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Shipbourne, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Ask your venue where a hog roast can cook.
Here we cover the TN11 postcode area, and we can cater your wedding anywhere in it. Local streets include Upper Green Road, Upper Green Lane and Back Lane; a wedding on any of them works well with outdoor space and a way in. Other places close to Shipbourne we cover include 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). We also serve nearby towns such as 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).
Nearby you’ll also find Ightham Court (3.3 miles north) and Hadlow Tower museum (2.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Barden Lake.
- Nearby schools include Hugh Christie Technology College (2.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Chaser Public House (less than half a mile west)
Planning the cooking spot
The right spot for the roaster makes everything easier. Look for:
- A level spot near, but not too near, the marquee
- Lighting for evening service
- A serving area close to where guests eat
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and the way in, and we’ll say what we think.
What we serve
- Hog roast rolls
- Spit-roast lamb
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Stuffing and apple sauce
- Roast or jacket potatoes
- Salads
- New potatoes
- Rotisserie chicken
- Crackling
Catered or do it yourself?
DIY hire works best when someone in the family loves cooking. For weddings and bigger events, a catered roast is normally easier.
Buying in a cold buffet is another option, but hot, freshly carved roast pork is a different experience.
- Roasted on site for several hours, outdoors under cover
- Carved to order by our chef, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Served by our staff at the time you choose, then cleared away