Hampshire · England
Festival & event paella in Botley, Hampshire
Planning festival paella catering in Botley? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- County and country shows
- Race days and sports events
- Charity and school events
Live festival paella catering in Botley
What’s in the pans
Chicken & chorizo paella
A crowd-pleaser for meat eaters.
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
Festival paella catering in Botley, cooked live
Because paella is cooked in big batches, it handles lunchtime rushes well. Portions are served in seconds. Typical bookings include farmers’ and Christmas markets and village fêtes and summer fairs, serving churros, giant-pan paella and vegan paella.
In Botley, one trader covering most diets keeps it simple. Paella does exactly that. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
- How long we are needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Where the event is
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
What happens on the day
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. For an evening event in Botley, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- We check your dates.
- We agree menu and pitch.
- We set up our burners and pans.
- Pans are cooking as gates open.
- We serve, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Provide seating near the food
- Ask traders about serving speed at peak times
Crew meals are served at set times.
Bowls and forks for eating on the go.
Common questions in Botley
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Botley?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Which station should guests use for Botley?
Botley station, about 0.8 miles east of the centre.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How quickly can you serve?
Service from the pan is fast, which suits busy periods.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What documents can you send?
Share your trader requirements.
Fairs, fêtes and events in Botley
Botley is about 1 mile east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. Across the SO30 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire.
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Botley station, about 0.8 miles east. School fairs, for a school like Botley Church of England Controlled Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. The coast is within about 5 miles of Botley, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch.
For festival paella catering in SO30, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include High Street, Boswell Close and Bailey Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Botley is on the A334, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. For events just outside Botley, we cover Boorley Green (1 mile north), Curdridge (2 miles east), Curbridge (2 miles south-east), Durley (2 miles north) and Horton Heath (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (10 miles north), Gosport (9 miles south-east), Havant (13 miles east), Eastleigh (5 miles north-west), Fareham (6 miles south-east) and Horndean (12 miles east).
A little further out are Moorgreen Hospital (2.2 miles north-west) and Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-west). Open spaces near Botley include Swanwick Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Wildern School (1.2 miles west) and Wildern School (1.2 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Dolphin Hotel The Dolphin Public House (within half a mile east)
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Places near Botley
Also in Botley
Is live paella right for your event?
Most stalls cook to order. Paella is batch-cooked and served fast, so queues move quickly. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Botley hosts choose us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Fast service from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Botley
It copes with peak times, thanks to big-batch cooking.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- County and country shows
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- VIP and hospitality areas
Running a fête for a church like Church of All Saints? A paella pan draws people in.
Before you book anyone
- A clear list of what’s included
- Space, access and power needs
- How long the team stays
- The wet-weather plan
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff