Starting a business in 2026 might feel like an uphill battle, but spare a thought for 1946. Britain was deep in the “Age of Austerity”, and life for would-be entrepreneurs was pretty grim. Materials were scarce, workers were thin on the ground, money was tight and capital controls strangled most ideas before they’d even left the shed. Harry Dransfield, however, wasn’t having any of it.
After getting hold of a “one-armed bandit”, the original lever-pulling fruit machine, Harry began tracking down more so that he could sell them on to licensed businesses. Was it a big gamble? Absolutely. Did it pay off? You bet it did.
Eight decades on, Dransfields is the UK’s leading supplier of digital gaming machines, jukeboxes and pool tables. So if you’ve ever fed a quid into a pub fruit or lined up a cheeky shot on the pool table, there’s a good chance a Dransfields machine was involved.
Where does Hog Roast Leeds fit into this story, I hear you ask? Don’t worry, we’re getting to that part…
You might not know this about us, but we absolutely love seeing a business go from humble beginnings to household names, so when we heard Dransfields were turning 80 and needed a caterer for their party, we practically jumped at the chance. The Dransfields team welcomed us to their Leeds HQ last month for a celebration with 70 guests, and with a milestone this big, they wanted something special, and that meant our signature dish. Yes, the legendary hog roast.
By 12:30pm, a whole hog was resting in its own juices and ready for carving. Guests drifted over to watch, buzzing with curiosity, while Hog Roast Leeds got to work separating the crispy crackling from the juicy meat underneath. Each portion went into a soft bap with sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce – and it disappeared about as fast as you’d expect.
Anyone still peckish could load up on coleslaw, side salads and mixed fries, then go to town with sauces, salt and vinegar or chilli jam. Everyone got to build the plate they fancied, and nobody left hungry.
The spread was a resounding hit, and a brilliant way to mark such a big moment in the company’s story – and we can’t thank Dransfields enough for letting Hog Roast Leeds join the fun. Here’s to many more decades of success.