Village fetes
A hog roast stall on the green is a fete tradition. Rolls served quickly to a steady stream of visitors.
Outdoor events
Outdoor Event Catering
Hog roast and BBQ catering for fetes, festivals, sports days and community events. Self-contained, weather-ready and set up to serve a crowd.
Events & crowds
Food for fields, greens and open spaces
Outdoor events live or die on the basics: toilets, weather and food. Get the food right and people stay longer, spend more and come back next year. A whole hog on the machine or a busy grill does more than feed people; it draws them in.
Our outdoor event catering is fully self-contained. We arrive with our cooking equipment, serving gazebo and supplies, set up where you allocate us, and serve for as long as your event needs. When it's over, we pack down and leave our pitch as we found it.
We work with organising committees, schools, sports clubs, charities, parish councils and event organisers, and we're comfortable being one trader among many or the only catering on site.
Outdoor events we cater for
Festivals
Music, food and beer festivals where a roast or grill sits alongside other traders and serves through the day.
Community events
Jubilee-style celebrations, open days and neighbourhood gatherings, with service suited to mixed ages.
Sports days & school fairs
Family-friendly menus with simple options for children, served within the time the school sets.
Club open days
Cricket, rugby, football, sailing and riding clubs welcoming new members with food on the lawn.
Charity events
Fun runs, sponsored walks and fundraising days, where catering can be arranged to support the cause.
Two ways to run the food: host-paid or pay-per-item
For outdoor events there are broadly two ways the catering can work, and both are options to discuss with us rather than fixed arrangements.
Host-paid service means the organiser pays for the food and guests eat for free. It's typical for staff fun days, club celebrations, community thank-you events and private gatherings on a large scale. You agree the menu and numbers in advance and we serve everyone who turns up within that plan.
Pay-per-item trading means we set up as a food trader and visitors buy their own rolls, burgers and sides. It's common at fetes, festivals and public events. Some organisers charge traders a pitch fee or ask for a share of takings to raise funds. We'll talk through what suits your event, your expected footfall and your budget.
Questions to decide early
- Will guests pay, or is food included?
- Is it a ticketed or open event?
- Roughly how many visitors, and over how long?
- Are there other food traders on site?
- Is the event raising money for a cause?
Licensing, permissions and trader requirements
Public outdoor events come with paperwork. Requirements vary between councils and landowners, so the organiser should always check what applies to their event. In general terms, organisers often need permission from the landowner, may need an event notice or licence from the local council for larger public gatherings or where alcohol is sold, and may need a road closure order for street events.
As a trader, we'll provide what event organisers typically ask for, such as our food hygiene registration details, public liability insurance documentation and a risk assessment for our cooking area, and we'll follow any site rules on gas, fire points and spacing between stalls. Tell us early what your event requires and we'll send it over.
We'll also follow your site plan: where traders go, how vehicles get on and off site, and when set-up and pack-down happen. If you're writing your plan from scratch, our outdoor catering checklist covers the catering side.
What we need on the day
- A pitch on level ground, with vehicle access for set-up and pack-down
- Agreed arrival and departure times that fit your site plan
- Clear space around the cooking area, away from children's activities and public walkways
- Details of any other food traders, so menus don't clash
- Access to waste disposal points, or an agreement for us to take our own waste
- A contact on the day who can help with any site questions
Serving a crowd quickly
Queues put people off. For busy outdoor events we keep the menu tight: hog roast rolls with stuffing and apple sauce, a couple of grill items, vegetarian options and a side or two. It keeps service fast without looking thin.
For large outdoor gatherings we'll plan the size of the roast, the number of serving points and the staff needed based on your expected footfall and how long the event runs. Busy fetes often see a rush around lunchtime; festivals have peaks in the evening. Telling us about past events helps us plan well.
We cook and serve vegetarian and vegan items separately on request, label every dish, and can provide allergen information for each item to answer visitors' questions on the day.
Menus for outdoor events
Most outdoor events use a streamlined version of our hog roast or BBQ menu.
Hog Roast Menu
Slow-roasted pork with crackling, stuffing, apple sauce and fresh rolls, plus salads and sides.
See the menu
BBQ Menu
Burgers, sausages, chicken and proper vegetarian and vegan options, cooked on the grill in front of your guests.
See the menuHow it works
Tell us about the event
Send the date, postcode, rough guest numbers and the kind of food you have in mind. A few lines is plenty to start.
Get a tailored quote
We'll suggest a menu, service style and timings that suit the event, and send a clear written quote. Tweak it as much as you like.
Confirm the details
Final numbers, dietary requirements, access, parking and timings are agreed in writing ahead of the day, so there are no surprises.
We cook, serve and clear
We arrive early, cook everything fresh on site, serve your guests from our counter, and leave the space clean and tidy.
Outdoor event catering FAQs
Can you trade at our fete where visitors pay for their own food?
Yes, we can work as a pay-per-item trader. We'll discuss expected footfall, pitch arrangements and whether a pitch fee or donation to your cause applies.
Can the organisers pay for all the food instead?
Yes. Host-paid service works well for staff fun days, club events and community celebrations. We agree numbers and a menu beforehand.
What documents can you provide for our event?
We can supply the documents organisers typically ask food traders for, such as food hygiene registration details, public liability insurance documentation and a risk assessment. Let us know your requirements.
Who arranges licences and permissions?
The event organiser is responsible for landowner permission, council licences or event notices and any road closures. We follow your site rules and plan.
Can you cater for school sports days and fairs?
Yes, with a family-friendly menu and simple options for children. We'll fit in with the school's timings and safety arrangements.
What if the weather is bad?
We cook and serve under our own gazebo, so we can keep going in most weather. Very high winds may mean adjusting where we set up, which we'll agree with you on the day.
Bring a hog roast to your event
Fetes, festivals, sports days and community events. Tell us about yours and we'll send options and a quote.