The short answer
Most hog roast caterers quote per head, often with a minimum number of guests, or per event for a set package. What you get for the money varies a lot: a simple pork roll at one end, a plated meal with several meats, sides, china and waiting staff at the other.
Published guides give a wide range. Here’s what we found when we checked in October 2026:
- Poptop, an events marketplace, says UK hog roast hire typically costs £15 to £24 per person, with an average of around £14 per guest and £800 to £1,008 per event. For London it gives an average of around £16 per guest. The pages are undated; we read them in October 2026 (Poptop UK, Poptop London).
- Taste the Cracklin, a hog roast caterer, put larger events with a basic set-up at £10 to £15 a head, and £20 to £30+ with more included (published 13 April 2026, their guide).
- Neighbourhood Hospitality gave £10 to £15 per person for most events (updated February 2026, their guide).
- Add to Event, an events directory, gave an average of £6 to £7 per head, from about £4 for a basic roll to £12 to £13+ with all the trimmings. That guide was published on 21 August 2023, so prices have moved since (their guide).
These are other companies’ figures and they change, so treat them as a guide, not a quote. We quote every event individually: tell us about yours and we’ll send a clear price.
A worked example from a published price list
Few caterers publish full prices, but some do. Oakfield Farm in Sussex listed a whole hog cooked on site at £1,575, a half hog cooked on site at £1,425, a hog cooked at the farm and delivered from £995, and weekend machine hire at £350 + VAT when we read their page in October 2026 (Oakfield Farm). They gave a whole hog as a guide for about 99 guests and a half hog as typically 45 to 50 guests.
Divide a package price by the number of people it feeds and you get a rough per-head figure, but only if the packages include the same things. That’s why comparing like for like matters more than the headline number.
Why prices vary so much
A hog roast has a lot of costs that don’t change much with the size of the event: the roaster and gazebo, gas, the vehicle and fuel, and a chef on site for most of the day, because a whole hog takes hours to roast. Feeding 60 people or 160 people takes much the same equipment and time. That’s why the price per head usually falls as numbers rise, and why many caterers have a minimum.
The rest is the food and service: the pig itself (and lamb or chicken if you add them), rolls, stuffing, apple sauce, sides, plates or china, and how many staff serve and clear.
The main things that change the price
- Numbers. The more people, the lower the cost per head, up to the point where a second roaster or more staff are needed.
- The menu. Pork rolls only, or with lamb, chicken, vegetarian and vegan options.
- Sides. Rolls on their own, or a plated meal with salads, coleslaw and potatoes.
- Plates or china. Disposable or eco plates are cheaper than hiring and washing china.
- Staff. A chef carving at a station is different from a team serving a sit-down meal.
- Time on site. Slow roasting means an early start; long service adds hours.
- Travel and access. Distance, London charges such as ULEZ, and how easy it is to reach the cooking spot.
- The date. Summer Saturdays and December Fridays are the busiest days of the year.
- VAT. Check whether a price includes it.
Catered, delivered or DIY?
Fully catered means the hog is roasted on site and a chef carves and serves. It costs the most, but you don’t lift a finger.
Cooked elsewhere and delivered is offered by some caterers: the hog is roasted at their base and brought to you ready to carve. It can be cheaper, but you lose some of the theatre, and the crackling has to travel.
DIY machine hire means you hire the roaster (and usually buy the meat and gas from the hirer) and do the cooking and carving yourself. It’s the cheapest option on paper, but it’s a long day’s work. Our guide to DIY hog roast hire explains what’s involved. We offer full catering and DIY machine hire.
What a good quote spells out
- The date, address, arrival time and serving time
- The menu: meats, vegetarian and vegan options, rolls, sides and sauces
- The number of people it’s based on, and any minimum
- Staffing: who carves, who serves, who clears
- Plates, cutlery, napkins or china
- Travel and any other charges
- Whether VAT is included
- The deposit, the balance and when they’re due
- What happens if numbers change or the event is cancelled
If a quote just gives a total, ask for the breakdown. Our list of questions to ask before you book covers the rest.
How a hog roast compares on cost
For larger groups, a hog roast is usually good value next to a plated meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Compared with a barbecue, prices are often similar; the difference is that a hog roast cooks in one go and is carved for everyone, while a barbecue comes off the grill in batches. See hog roast or barbecue?
Where a hog roast is less good value is very small numbers. If you’re feeding twenty people, a whole hog is a lot of meat, and the fixed costs are spread thinly. Ask about smaller options, or consider a different kind of catering.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Keep the menu simple. Pork rolls with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling, plus one alternative, is the classic for a reason.
- Give accurate numbers. At weddings, not every evening guest eats; ask how much of the guest list to cater for.
- Choose plates over china unless you’re having a sit-down meal.
- Be flexible on the date. Weekdays, Sundays and quieter months are easier to book.
- Make access easy. A cooking spot near where our vehicle can park saves time.
- Consider DIY hire for a relaxed family party where someone enjoys cooking.
Hidden costs to ask about
None of these are unusual, but they’re easier to plan for up front: travel beyond a set distance, ULEZ or the Congestion Charge in London, parking, a long wait between arrival and service, overrunning service, china hire, and venue fees for outside caterers. Some wedding venues charge a fee when you bring in your own caterer, so ask the venue too.
Quick answers
Is a hog roast cheaper than a buffet?
Often it’s similar, and for larger groups it can be cheaper. The difference is that the food is hot and carved in front of your guests.
Do hog roasts have a minimum number of guests?
Many caterers have one, because the roaster, staff and travel cost the same for a small group. Ask when you enquire.
Why don’t you publish a price list?
Because every event is different. We’d rather send a quote that matches what you actually need.
Is DIY hire much cheaper?
It usually costs less, because you’re not paying for a chef and staff, but you do all the work. Ask us for both and compare.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll check the date and send a quote.