South African Braai Catering in Surrey & London: Why Billy Tong Is the Name Behind the Fire
There’s a reason the braai is South Africa’s most cherished tradition. It’s not just about cooking meat over coals — it’s about gathering people around a fire, filling the air with the unmistakable smell of boerewors sizzling on the grill, and turning any occasion into something worth remembering. Now imagine bringing that experience to your next event in Surrey, London, or anywhere in the UK — without lifting a pair of tongs yourself.
That’s exactly what Billy Tong’s South African braai catering service delivers. Whether you’re planning a wedding reception in the Surrey Hills, a corporate team-building day in Cobham, a milestone birthday in your back garden, or a festival stall that draws a crowd, we bring the fire, the food, and the full South African experience to you. From charcoal BBQ catering and traditional spit braai to full three-course braai menus complete with South African desserts, Billy Tong is the name behind some of the most talked-about outdoor events in the South East.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what our braai catering service includes, the types of events we cater for, what sets a South African braai apart from a standard hog roast or barbecue, and how to book Billy Tong for your next gathering.
If you’ve searched for BBQ catering Surrey or hog roast catering Surrey, you’ve probably seen dozens of companies offering burgers, bangers, and pulled pork. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But a South African braai is something else entirely.
A braai (pronounced “bry”, rhymes with “eye”) is the South African word for barbecue, but calling it a barbecue barely scratches the surface. In South Africa, the braai is a cultural institution. It’s how families celebrate Heritage Day (September 24th, also known as National Braai Day). It’s the centrepiece of every rugby gathering, every birthday, and every weekend worth having. The braai master tends the coals with care, the meat is cooked slowly over real fire — never gas — and the whole event becomes a social occasion that revolves around food, fire, and togetherness.
When you book South African braai catering with Billy Tong, you’re not just getting a caterer. You’re getting the full experience: traditional charcoal cooking with real flames, authentic South African meats and recipes, and a team that understands the rhythm and culture of the braai because we’ve been living it our entire lives.
Every event is different, and we tailor our menus to suit the occasion, the number of guests, and your budget. But here’s what a typical Billy Tong braai catering experience looks like:
The heart of any braai is the meat. We bring the same quality you’d expect from our award-winning Cobham shop, cooked the traditional way over charcoal:
• Boerewors — South Africa’s iconic coiled sausage, seasoned with coriander, cloves, and black pepper. Served in a roll with Mrs Ball’s chutney and chakalaka, it’s the single most popular item at every braai we cater.
• Tender steaks — Premium cuts grilled to perfection over the coals, with that unmistakable smoky char that only real fire can deliver.
• Succulent chicken — Peri-peri chicken flatties, lemon-and-herb sosaties (the South African take on kebabs), and Mrs Ball’s glazed chicken pieces.
• Lamb chops, pork rashers, and more — Depending on your menu, we can add marinated lamb, honey-glazed pork, or any combination from our butchery range.
No South African braai is complete without a spread of fresh salads alongside the meat. We prepare traditional South African-style salads on the day, including classics like potato salad, coleslaw, a fresh garden salad, and a tangy bean salad — just like you’d enjoy at a braai back home.
This is where we really stand out from your standard hog roast company or generic BBQ caterer. We offer a selection of authentic South African desserts that your guests will be talking about long after the last coal has cooled:
• Koeksisters — Plaited doughnuts dipped in ice-cold syrup. Sticky, sweet, and impossibly moreish.
• Melktert — A silky-smooth South African milk tart with a dusting of cinnamon. Comfort food at its finest.
• Malva pudding — A warm, spongy, caramelised pudding drenched in a creamy sauce. The undisputed king of South African desserts.
• Peppermint Crisp tart — Layers of caramel, cream, and crushed Peppermint Crisp chocolate. A braai-party favourite.
While the fire is getting going and the main course is on its way, your guests won’t go hungry. We set out platters of Billy Tong’s award-winning biltong, droewors, and chilli bites — the perfect pre-braai snacks to graze on while the coals do their work. It’s the kind of touch that sets a South African BBQ catering experience apart from anything else on the market.
Want to go the full nine yards? We can supply South African beers, wines, ciders, and soft drinks from our extensive range. Think Castle Lager, Savanna Dry cider, Pinotage from the Western Cape, and Stoney ginger beer for the designated drivers. Ask us about drinks packages when you get in touch.
Billy Tong’s braai catering service is designed to work for any event, any size, and any setting. Here are some of the occasions our customers book us for most often:
A wedding hog roast catering Surrey search will bring up plenty of options — but if you want something more memorable than pulled pork in a bun, a South African braai wedding reception is hard to beat. We’ve catered intimate garden weddings for 30 guests and larger receptions for 200+. The sight and smell of real flames grilling premium meats creates an atmosphere that no standard catering van can match. Your guests will remember the food as much as the vows.
Looking for corporate BBQ catering Surrey? A braai is the ultimate team-building centrepiece. It’s casual enough to get people relaxed and talking, impressive enough to show you’ve put thought into the day, and the food is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. We’ve catered corporate away days, product launches, office celebrations, and end-of-year parties across Surrey, London, and the wider South East.
Whether it’s a milestone birthday in your back garden, a housewarming, an anniversary, or a “just because” gathering with friends, our private event BBQ catering Surrey service takes the stress out of hosting. We arrive, set up, cook, serve, and clean up. All you need to do is enjoy the party.
For festival food catering Surrey operators, a South African braai stall is a guaranteed foot-traffic magnet. Boerewors rolls, biltong snack boxes, and braai burgers cooked over real coals — the aroma alone draws a queue. We’ve served at local food festivals, community fairs, and sporting events across the region.
For the estimated 500,000+ South Africans living in the UK, a braai isn’t just food — it’s a connection to home. We cater Heritage Day parties, South African Christmas celebrations, rugby watch parties, and family reunions where the braai is the main event. If you’re a South African expat in Surrey or London and you want the real thing, Billy Tong has you covered.
Surrey and London are not short of barbecue catering Surrey options. So why choose Billy Tong? Here’s what makes our service genuinely different:
We’re not a generic barbecue company that’s added a “South African” option to the menu. South African food is all we do. Our team grew up around braais. Our recipes are the real thing. Our boerewors comes from our own butchery. When you hire Billy Tong, you’re getting the most authentic braai catering London and Surrey has to offer.
Billy Tong won the LUX Magazine award for Best Authentic Biltong Provider in Surrey — and that same commitment to quality runs through everything we cater. From the premium cuts of meat we select to the traditional spice blends we use, every dish reflects the standard that’s earned us a loyal following from both South African expats and British converts.
Most hog roast hire Surrey companies drop off a spit and leave you to it. We do the opposite. Billy Tong provides a full-service catering experience: we arrive with all the equipment, set up the braai, cook everything fresh on site, serve your guests, and pack up afterwards. Three courses — from snack platters through to South African desserts — not just a meat-on-a-plate service.
Forget sourcing ingredients from three different suppliers. We bring the lot: premium braai meats from our own butchery, biltong and droewors from our production range, freshly prepared salads, traditional South African desserts, and even South African drinks if required. One point of contact, one invoice, one team that handles it all.
Our shop and production facility are right here in Cobham, Surrey. That means we’re local to the South East, we know the area, and we’re easy to meet face-to-face before your event if you want to taste the menu or talk through the details. For mobile BBQ catering Surrey, outdoor event catering Surrey, or any event across London and the Home Counties, we’re perfectly positioned.
If you’re weighing up your options, here’s how a South African braai catering experience compares to the more common alternatives:
|
Feature |
SA Braai (Billy Tong) |
Hog Roast |
Standard BBQ |
|
Cooking method |
Open charcoal fire, traditional braai method |
Spit-roasted whole hog over gas or charcoal |
Gas or charcoal grill, often pre-cooked elements |
|
Meat variety |
Boerewors, steaks, chicken, lamb, pork — wide range |
Primarily one protein (pork) |
Burgers, sausages, chicken — standard fare |
|
Menu depth |
Three courses: snacks, mains with salads, SA desserts |
Typically mains + basic sides |
Mains + basic sides |
|
Cultural experience |
Full South African braai atmosphere and tradition |
British countryside / pub feel |
Casual, familiar |
|
Unique factor |
Biltong platters, koeksisters, malva pudding, SA drinks |
Visual spectacle of the whole hog |
Familiar and safe |
|
Ideal for |
Weddings, corporate, private parties, festivals, SA expat events |
Country weddings, large outdoor events |
Casual garden parties, low-key events |
The bottom line: if you want food your guests have had before, any caterer will do. If you want food they’ll still be talking about six months later, book a braai.
Getting your braai booked is simple. Here’s how it works:
1. Get in touch. Message or WhatsApp Mark on 07789 755504 or email mark@billytong.com with “SA CATERING QUOTE” in the subject line. Alternatively, complete the online quotation form HERE.
2. Tell us the details. Include the date of your event, the number of guests, and the venue address. If you have a rough idea of the kind of menu you’d like, mention that too — but don’t worry if you’re not sure yet. We’ll help you build the perfect menu.
3. Receive your custom quote. We’ll come back to you with a tailored proposal based on your guest count, menu choices, and event requirements.
4. Confirm and relax. Once you’re happy, we lock in your date. On the day, we arrive, set up, braai, serve, and clean up. You enjoy the party.
We cater events across Surrey, London, and the wider South East. Whether it’s a garden party for 20 or a festival for 500, we’ve got the experience and the equipment to deliver.
Billy Tong is based in Cobham, Surrey, which puts us right in the heart of the South East. We regularly cater events in and around:
• Cobham, Esher, Weybridge, and Walton-on-Thames
• Guildford, Woking, and the wider Surrey area
• Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon, and South West London
• Central London and the City
• Hampshire, Berkshire, and the Home Counties
If you’re searching for spit roast catering Surrey, party hog roast hire Surrey, or braai catering UK further afield, get in touch and we’ll let you know if we can reach you. We’re flexible, and we’ve travelled further than you might expect for the right event.
Our catering service is an extension of everything we already do. If you’re planning an event or simply discovering us for the first time, here’s what else Billy Tong brings to the table:
• Award-winning biltong and droewors — Our premium biltong collection is traditionally air-dried and available for delivery anywhere in the UK. Perfect as event snacks, grazing platters, or gifts.
• Braai meats for home delivery — Can’t book the catering but still want to braai at home? Order boerewors, marinated steaks, sosaties, and chicken flatties from our online shop and we’ll deliver them to your door.
• South African groceries — From Mrs Ball’s chutney to Ouma rusks, Ina Paarman’s braai spice to All Gold braai relish — we stock over 200 South African grocery products in our Cobham shop and online.
• South African wines, beers, and spirits — Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Castle Lager, Savanna cider, and more. Browse our alcohol range to complete your braai or event.
• Wholesale supply — Running a pub, restaurant, or deli? We supply biltong, boerewors, and South African products wholesale. Contact us for trade pricing.
How much does braai catering cost?
Pricing depends on the number of guests, the menu you choose, and the location of your event. We provide custom quotes for every booking. As a rough guide, our three-course braai menus start from a competitive per-head rate that includes setup, cooking, serving, and clean-up. Contact us with your event details for an accurate quote.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking at least 4–6 weeks ahead, especially for peak summer weekends and the Heritage Day period (late September). For larger events like weddings or corporate functions, earlier is better — 2–3 months is ideal. That said, we can sometimes accommodate shorter notice, so don’t hesitate to ask.
What’s the minimum number of guests?
We cater events from as few as 20 guests up to 500+. Smaller, more intimate gatherings are absolutely something we do — a braai doesn’t need to be a massive event to be special.
Do you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. While the braai is naturally centred around meat, we can accommodate guests with specific dietary needs. Our salads and sides offer vegetarian options, and we can adjust menus for allergies or intolerances. Let us know when you get in touch and we’ll build a menu that works for everyone.
Do you provide all the equipment?
Yes. We bring everything we need: braai equipment, charcoal, cooking utensils, serving equipment, and all the food. All we need from you is a suitable outdoor space (or a well-ventilated indoor area) and access to a power point if required. We set up before your guests arrive and clean up once the event is done.
Can you cater indoor events?
Our braai cooking requires an outdoor or semi-outdoor space for safety and ventilation. However, the serving and eating can absolutely happen indoors — we’ve catered marquee events, barn weddings, and garden parties with indoor dining areas. We’ll work with your venue to make it happen.
What’s the difference between a braai and a hog roast?
A hog roast typically involves a single whole pig slow-roasted on a spit. A South African braai offers a much wider variety of meats (boerewors, steaks, chicken, lamb), plus it includes traditional sides, snacks like biltong and droewors, and South African desserts — making it a complete culinary experience rather than a single-protein service. The cooking method is also different: braai uses open charcoal fire, while many hog roast setups use gas.
Do you cater outside of Surrey?
Yes. While we’re based in Cobham, Surrey, we regularly travel to London, Hampshire, Berkshire, and the wider South East. For events further afield, get in touch and we’ll discuss logistics.
Ready to Book Your Braai?
Whether it’s a wedding reception, a corporate away day, a birthday blowout, or a Heritage Day celebration, Billy Tong brings the authentic South African braai experience to you. Three courses, premium meats, traditional desserts, and a team that lives and breathes braai culture.
Get your quote today:
• WhatsApp or call Mark: 07789 755504
• Complete the online form HERE
• Email: mark@billytong.com (subject line: “SA CATERING QUOTE”)
• Visit us: Billy Tong, 1 Hollyhedge Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3DQ
Want to see our full braai meat range or stock up for your own home braai? Shop our braai meats collection at billytong.com
Curious about biltong? Read our guide: What Is Biltong? The Complete Beginner’s Guide
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