Long before the white dress, the first dance and the overpriced florist, there was the hog roast. We’re talking Tudor banquet tables, Viking weddings, ancient Roman celebrations, entire villages gathering round a spit, the kind of meal that made people feel like they were part of something. Centuries later, that energy hasn’t gone anywhere – it’s just got a lot better at fitting in.
And yes, we’re aware that Hog Roast St. Issey recommending a hog roast is a bit like a bakery telling you bread is great. But the fact that this dish has gone from royal feasts to relaxed garden parties to genuinely elegant wedding receptions tells its own story. It’s not a trend. It’s just really, really good food.
Last week, we got to prove exactly that at a stunning wedding celebration.
The couple had been clear from the start – they wanted the full works. No corners cut, no details missed. So Hog Roast St. Issey showed up ready to deliver something genuinely special, and we started before anyone had even found their seats.
Guests were welcomed with drinks and a round of handmade canapés, including pan-seared fillet of beef, gourmet sausages, beer-battered mini fish and chips, and an Indian selection that had people reaching for seconds before the first course had even been announced. Talk about a strong opening.
Then came the centrepiece. The whole hog, slow-cooked over a low flame for hours until it reached golden-skinned perfection and was carved at the table with crackling, stuffing and applesauce, and surrounded by a lineup of sides that genuinely held their own: heritage tomato and mozzarella salad, red cabbage slaw, a proper Caesar, and creamy dauphinoise potatoes that were dangerously good.
For those not eating pork, we offered spring lamb studded with garlic and rosemary, Yorkshire puddings and mint sauce – plus grilled vegetable skewers with optional halloumi and tzatziki to make sure nobody was left out.
In keeping with the grandeur of the occasion, everything was served on real china with proper silverware. Because some occasions deserve the real thing.
Then came the big finish: lemon tarts and cheesecakes. The plates were cleared almost instantly, compliments came in thick and fast and no one went home disappointed.
If you want your wedding to stand out from the rest, start with Hog Roast St. Issey. 