BBWF 2012 Update!

[Mr Tank]

Hi Gents

Time I think for a bit of news ref BBWF!

Really its to gauge your opinion ref the Hog roast!

Last years was very good so I have tried to re-book them! (Old saying if its not broke etc!) Well it is broken Leam the man behind the roast is in Hospital (Is it catching I ask) and will be their for some time. Know I have been making enquires else were and price are high (Bloody people using the Olympics as excuse for price) now the prices range from £16.50 a head for very little to £18.95 for a fair deal. To even higher!

What do you think etc.

Andy

Edited by Mr Tank on Sunday 12th February 10:57

[TvR Driver]

How many people are going to be there ??

Also has anybody ever had a trailer / towbar fitted to their wedge ???

Reason being we have www.hogroastscotland.co.uk as well as the castle so have a few hog machines etc - this is the year i may be able to finally come along in the growler tho so dont really want to come in a van !!!

Have you looked at hiring the machine and gas as we only charge around £350 and then get a pig from the local slaughterhouse for around £3 per kilo and bobs yer uncle ( or percy is yer pig ! )

I would think for 100 people will cost you around £700 and we can all take turns at carving / hacking at the pig and then its just a few bowls of leaves for teh rabbits / sorry veggies :-)

Would have to check he hotel are happy for it do be done by the crowd tho....

Hope this helps

Ty

[Mr Tank]

Hi Ty

Thanks for that idea, the average num for the hog is around 75, last year it cost not much more than you quotted, with all the set out and carving done for us!

Except for the sweets which we did our selves!

The problem with your idea I can see with experience of trying a simlar thing, is the hiring of the machine, collecting it and including the pig etc! Plus returning it if they don't do a delivery/collection service.
It will also need sombody who is reliable to do it with a suitable vehicle!

I am sorry to sound so negative but have been their done it etc.
I personally want a trouble free packgage, if it has a slight extra cost to me its worth it!
To have the trouble free enjoyable evening!

Andy

[Mr Tank]

mrzigazaga said:

Self catering was an option put forward last year and its something that may have to be considered this year!!..Like you say there are people that hire out equipment and there is arden pig company in stratford who could supply the hog and beef and veggie burglers..There are a couple of companies that offer catering service with all the trimmings in the stratford area and i have requested some prices..Or self-catering..Once the pig is paid for we could do a supermarket sweep for all the rest..Veg..sauces..cakes..We then designate a chef...

Mark

Well all I can say to you is if you want to organise it, go to the supermarket, do the cooking etc please do!

The problem would be with the Hotel!

They are happy for us to have professional caterers, who are insured to do a Hog etc, but not for us who are not insured etc. Trust me we don't want to go down getting insurance etc for the event!

Plus I cant remember the idea of self catering being an idea last year. (Apart from Adams brain wave for the sweets.)

Andy

Edited by Mr Tank on Sunday 12th February 11:49

[adam quantrill]

Can we have a V8 powered spit for the hog? Or is that a bit silly?

Yes the sweets were easy - just open packet etc - no preparation as such.

But we need some caterers or the hotel or pub to do the mains.

[Mr Tank]

Well said Adam!

Andy

[Mr Tank]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Andy...That is a fair point and last year's hog roast was very good value and there was no complaints as regards to portion size..It was also very very tasty!!..Perhaps keep an ear to the ground as regards to finding a company that can provide the service we need..I will make some more enquiries this week..Besides if the cooking was left to me it would probably end up rusty flavoured..... = ....

Mark

I am already talking to other companys/caterers (See beging of post)
What this post is about it to gauge the response on how much people are prepaired to pay etc so we can make a decision on who to have!

Andy

[hallsie]

Hi All

About £20 sounds about fair.

Is the pub an option this year?
I remeber it was just newly re-opened last year and didnt get chance to get up there, but is there an option of asking them to put on a roast for the night?
What do the chest wig boys do on the growl?

Stu

[mrzigazaga]

I would go up to £15 for a couple of slices of pig in a bun with some salad and side servings and cake for dessert but anything over that i would go to one of the many inns or resturants around stratford for the saturday night meal..Its surprising what you can get for £20...Ziga

[hallsie]

Just having a quick google, like you do on a sunday afternoon.

http://www.shakespeare-spitroast.co.uk/ourmenu.php

Stu

[Trickie Dickie]

Is the White Horse still open?

If so is it worth asking if they would put on a spread? (hog roast/bbq/finger buffet?)
I ate their last year with Dixie and Kim and had a great meal at reasonable cost
and a much better beer at a much better cost than the hotel

I thought the year we had the food there was the best of all the years catering. IMHO

And maybe we could arrange a Tug of War again?

Trickie

[Mr Tank]

hallsie said:

Just having a quick google, like you do on a sunday afternoon.

http://www.shakespeare-spitroast.co.uk/ourmenu.php

Stu

Stu

Thanks for that, it's one of the ones I have been looking at!

Andy

[Mr Tank]

Trickie Dickie said:

Is the White Horse still open?

If so is it worth asking if they would put on a spread? (hog roast/bbq/finger buffet?)
I ate their last year with Dixie and Kim and had a great meal at reasonable cost
and a much better beer at a much better cost than the hotel

I thought the year we had the food there was the best of all the years catering. IMHO

And maybe we could arrange a Tug of War again?

Trickie

Trickie

Yes we could go there and I believe the Griff growl used it last year. Stu I am not certain if they are this year or what food arrangments they are making.

The problems I see are.

A. The amount some like to drink, which gives the problem of walking or risk driving.

B. We have a large room reserved at the Hotel and part of the deal to get the lower room rate at the Hotel was that we us there facilities all night! Not go out and then come back when it suites us! Which means loss of earnings at there bar.

Mark
It was more than a bit of salad with your pork in a bun, but what ever suites you?

I will have to make a descision fairly soon, i.e. by the end of next week to guarantee we get a good deal!

Andy

[jon haines]

I am not really a fan of the hog roast but i do appreciate that the hotel has to make money and if we have done a deal to get cheaper rooms we cant start taking the p**s but in these times of economic doom and gloom price/value is important.

[mrzigazaga]

Mr Tank said:

Mark
It was more than a bit of salad with your pork in a bun, but what ever suites you?

I wasnt talking about last years roast!..As i said it was good food and good value for money with no complaints!!..Im talking about this year and how much people are going to have to pay and what they are going to get..In your exact words "£16.50 a head for very little to £18.95 for a fair deal. To even higher!"..This is what im talking about..If you are saying that for £16.50 per head we are going to get very little then i would like to know what "Very little is"???..I would not mind paying up to £20 but on the basis of your calculations i would rather go to a local inn or restaurant of which there are many and pay exactly the same for a three course dinner...Ziga


PS:Even though the hotels food was expensive and mouldy what about them laying on something for the saturday evening, Surely they are open for negotiations especially as they want us to use THEIR facilities..After all we are using their empty hall and their expensive early closing bar!!..Mind you they did give out free coffee and tea last year so they are not all bad..

Edited by mrzigazaga on Monday 13th February 09:51

[Mr Tank]

Mark

We are trying to get the best deal we can for the Hog etc! You have made your feelings know,great!
Ref the Hotel we used them two years ago for the Hog, it was not that good and expensive!
Believe me there is no more we can get out of them!

We will be trying to get the best deal we can, but they are all being asked for the max at lowest cost to help charity!

Andy

[FlipFlopGriff]

Andy,
We used the White Horse (for the Griff Growl) last year for a BBQ and are doing so again this year. It was a tenner a head and there was enough food, some even had seconds. If you went for £15 I'm sure you could get a lot more, and as already said the beer is better and cheaper. You are very reliant upon the weather though, which luckily for us was great last year.
We've got the same room rates so it may be worth re-visiting the clause about staying at the hotel Saturday evening! If you need any assistance or info let me know.
FFG

[Mr WST]

Ive been looking through most of the comments and they all seem valid. Though i have to agree, its a venue where we should all be at, food drink party etc.
After a burn of the tyres, would be good to stay in one place (Hotel Possibly, then eat, drink, REV and party the night away! Anything up to £20 sounds reasonable to me...
Pity the Hotel wont let us cook, we could have all brought a cold spread down for a late Buffet!!!!

Thack

[mrzigazaga]

Has asking the hotel to cook food that we supply been asked?..Could it be cheaper if we bought the meat stuffs and veggie meals and asked them to prepare it along with the salads?..The desserts were bought from iceland last year..(I think)..by Adam which was a good idea..They were delicious!!..maybe finding a farm or local supplier of hog..Lamb..beef & chicken?..Things like potatoes salad & apple sauce can be bought in bulk which is cheaper..Just an idea as it would be better if we were all in the same place...Ziga

[Mr WST]

Ziga
Sounds good.. Or all bring some food pre cooked, just a cold buffet to eat with many beers