Cost guide
How much does hog roast cost?
A hog roast in rolls with stuffing and apple sauce costs £10 to £15 per head for 50 to 100 guests, falling to £6 to £9 per head at 200. Adding salads, potatoes and a second meat takes it to £15 to £25 per head. Machine-only hire, where you do the cooking, is £150 to £300 a day.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Hog roast in rolls, up to 50 guests | £650 to £950 |
| Hog roast in rolls, up to 100 guests | £800 to £1,300 |
| Hog roast with salads and potatoes, 100 guests | £1,300 to £2,200 |
| Pre-carved pork delivered, 20 to 40 guests | £290 to £500 |
| Machine-only hire, you cook | £150 to £300 |
Most of the gap between quotes is what is included. A figure of £4 a head is usually pork and rolls for a large crowd with little else; a figure of £25 is a served meal with sides, a second meat and a chef for the day. Compare quotes on what arrives on the plate, not the headline number.
What moves the price
- Guest numbers. The pig, the machine and the chef's day barely change between 60 and 120 guests, so the figure per head drops as the numbers climb.
- Rolls or a meal. Pork in a roll with stuffing and sauce is the base price; salads, new potatoes, coleslaw and plated service add roughly £5 to £10 a head.
- Extra meats and a vegetarian main. A second roast, or a proper vegetarian dish rather than a veggie burger, is priced as an extra line.
- Served on site or delivered. A pre-carved hog roast delivered hot for 20 to 40 people is a separate, cheaper product from a pig roasted and carved at the event.
- Travel and the date. Most caterers include travel within a set radius, often 20 to 50 miles, and summer Saturdays book first and are discounted least.
Who quotes for it
67 of the 2,162 caterers listed on this site take on hog roast.
Where they are: Eastleigh (2), Leeds (2), Liverpool (2), Plymouth (2), Abergavenny (1).
Questions about hog roast
Can I hire a hog roast machine and cook it myself?
Yes. Machine-only hire costs about £150 to £300 a day with gas, and some hirers supply the pig as well. You are then responsible for around six hours of cooking and for making sure the pork is cooked right through to the bone.
Do hog roast caterers have a food hygiene rating?
They should. Any food business must register with its local council and is inspected under the Food Standards Agency scheme, rated 0 to 5, or Pass and Improvement Required in Scotland. The rating sits at the registered address, usually the unit where the machines are kept. caterers.trade lists only caterers rated 3 or above, or Pass in Scotland.