Hampshire · England
Wedding Hog Roast for South Down
Treat your guests to slow-roasted pork and crackling at your wedding in South Down. The roast cooks for hours on site, then our chef carves it hot for everyone.
- Marquee weddings
- The main wedding meal
- Weddings in a family garden
Slow-roasted pork in South Down
For event organisers in South Down
Planning on behalf of a committee? One clear contact makes everything easier, particularly when timings shift.
For events on land you do not own, such as a park or field, the landowner needs to agree to cooking and vehicles. Sort that first.
About our wedding hog roast in South Down
For the wedding breakfast, a hog roast becomes a plated meal: carved pork with salads, new potatoes or roast potatoes, with china available on request. We’re frequently asked to cater garden weddings at home and marquee receptions, with halloumi skewers, carved roast pork and crackling.
Near South Down, weddings are frequently in fields, barns or gardens. A hog roast is made for that: no kitchen, just level ground and cover. Let us know about access and ground. The hog is roasted on site at your wedding, low and slow, for hours.
Places near South Down
Other occasions in South Down
Occasions we serve in South Down
It’s relaxed, generous wedding food, perfect for an informal day.
Hosts in South Down book us for everything from small get-togethers to big outdoor events. For example:
- Intimate weddings
- The main wedding meal
- Anniversary vow renewals
- Evening receptions
Marrying at Church of All Saints? A reception in a garden, barn or marquee close by gives the roaster an outdoor spot.
What to look for in a quote
- Who carves and who serves
- How they handle allergens and dietary needs
- Arrival time and how long the roast needs
- Payment terms and cancellation policy
South Down: your questions answered
Is South Down too small for a hog roast?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and the ground.
We’re gathering after a service at Church of All Saints: can you cater?
Yes, at a nearby hall, home or venue with room to cook outside. Food is usually served at the reception venue rather than the church. Send us the address.
How long does the roast need?
Several hours, depending on the size and the weather, so we arrive well before you want to eat. We plan the timings from when you want to eat.
How much room do you need?
Enough level ground outdoors for the roaster and a serving table under cover, and a way to wheel everything in. Send us a picture if you are unsure.
Can you cook inside a hall or marquee?
No, the roast is always cooked outdoors under cover, away from buildings and marquee walls. We can frequently serve indoors if the venue agrees.
Will our venue allow a hog roast?
Check with the venue first: rules vary. We’ll sort the details with them.
When should we book?
Popular dates go early. But it is always worth asking: fill in our quote form.
Do you do DIY hog roast hire?
Yes, we hire out the hog roast machine. We will explain what’s supplied and how it works when we quote.
What comes off the roaster
Crackling
Crackling is what people queue for: crisp, golden and full of flavour, straight off the hog.
Halloumi and vegetable skewers (V)
Vegetarians get halloumi and vegetable skewers, a hot, filling option of their own.
Weddings in South Down: venues, ceremonies and travel
South Down is about 3 miles north-east of Chandler's Ford, in Hampshire. Wherever your wedding is in South Down, we can bring the roaster, as long as there’s an outdoor spot to cook. We cater 683 places in Hampshire. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 7 miles away.
If you want countryside in your photos, Shawford Down is not far. Guests coming by rail will want to know that Shawford station, about 0.6 miles north-east, is the nearest station.
Here we cover the SO21 postcode area, and we can cater your wedding anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Cross Way, Fairfield Road and Grove Road, and a wedding on any of them works with a garden, drive or yard for the roaster. For weddings just outside South Down, we cover Compton (1 mile north), Otterbourne (1 mile south-west), Shawford (1 mile north-east), Twyford (1 mile east) and Oliver's Battery (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (3 miles north), Eastleigh (3 miles south), Fareham (13 miles south-east), Andover (15 miles north-west), Totton (10 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (3 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Balfour Museum of Hampshire Red Cross History (2.9 miles north) and Wolvesey Castle (3.2 miles north). Within reach you’ll find Twyford Down and Shawford Down.
- Local schools include Thornden School (1.9 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Bridge Inn (0.6 miles north-east)
Diets, allergies and alternatives
Some guests won’t eat pork, so it’s worth adding an alternative. A few pointers:
- Give us vegetarian and vegan numbers
- Note which guests do not eat pork, for lamb, chicken or a vegetarian choice
- Share the menu with your venue coordinator
- Remember that stuffing typically contains gluten
Evening food typically goes out an hour or two after the first dance, timed with you in advance.
Festoon lights by the carving station look lovely in evening photos; tell your venue or marquee supplier.
The process
Carving is part of the show: the hog is carved in front of your guests, with crackling for everyone who wants it. For a summer wedding in South Down, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, which means an evening hog roast is usually served in daylight in high summer. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it’s dark by about 4:00pm.
- Send us the date, venue and guest numbers.
- We confirm the date and the venue and send a price.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Plan somewhere sheltered for people to eat if it rains
- Confirm numbers ahead of the day
- Keep the spot clear of buildings, marquee walls and overhanging branches
How to get 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.
Read more
What affects the price in South Down
There is no fixed price list, because every wedding is different. The main factors are:
- Busy dates such as summer Saturdays
- The menu and extras such as lamb or chicken
- Crockery choices
- Numbers
When comparing prices, compare the same things: the menu, sides, service time, staffing, crockery and travel. The cheapest quote isn’t always the best value.
What to tell us
To check the date and the space, we’ll need:
- The venue or postcode
- Your menu choices
- Dietary requirements
- An estimate of numbers
Not sure how many to cater for? Give us your best estimate and we’ll quote on that, and you can confirm nearer the time. Fill in our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces can work with a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Serving inside the marquee or barn if allowed
- Clear space away from the marquee and any branches
- Light near the carving station after dark
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in South Down
- Halloumi skewers (V)
- Roast or jacket potatoes
- Vegan option (Ve)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Hog roast rolls
- Spit-roast lamb
- Crackling
- New potatoes
- Salads
- Stuffing and apple sauce
Is a hog roast right for your wedding?
A common mix is a plated meal followed by an evening hog roast; others make the hog roast the main meal. Travel matters for the price: we include travel in the quote. Give us the address so the quote is accurate.
Why South Down hosts choose us
- No surprises: everything in writing
- Carved by our chef in front of your guests
- Rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling
- Self-contained: roaster, cover and serving kit
Take a look at how we price and our hog roast cost guide.
- Cooked where you are, slowly, over several hours outdoors
- Freshly carved pork with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce
- Vegetarian and vegan choices, plus lamb or chicken if you like
- Staff to serve at the agreed time, then clear away