Hampshire · England
Festival Paella Catering in Downton
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Downton. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Open days and community events
- Race days and sports events
Festival paella catering for Downton events
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Festival paella catering for your event in Downton
Because paella is cooked in big batches, it handles lunchtime rushes well. Each portion takes seconds to serve. Popular choices include seafood paella, churros and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re often booked for county and country shows and festivals.
Near Downton, events may be far from shops and cafés, so a hot-food stall is a big help. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Who books festival paella catering in Downton?
It covers several diets with one trader, which saves pitches.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Downton and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- County and country shows
- Race days and sports events
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of All Saints, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- The venue requirements
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- How each diet is kept separate
Running an event in Downton
Downton is about 3 miles west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Downton or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 16 miles away.
School fairs, for a school like Hordle CofE (VA) Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is New Milton station, about 2 miles north-west. Within about 6 miles is the New Forest National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements. The coast is within about 4 miles of Downton, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch.
Here we cover the SO41 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on Hordle Lane and Shorefield Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Leagreen (1 mile east), Hordle (1 mile north), Ashley (2 miles north-west), Barton on Sea (2 miles west) and New Milton (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Totton (13 miles north), Lymington (3 miles east), Hythe (13 miles north-east), Ringwood (10 miles north-west), Dibden Purlieu (12 miles north-east) and Marchwood (13 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Lymington New Forest Hospital (3.7 miles north-east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (2.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Downton includes Milford on Sea LNR.
- Local schools include The Arnewood School (2.1 miles west)
Live paella or other catering?
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why us?
- Catering across Hampshire, including Downton
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, events in Downton stay light until about 9:25pm, which helps evening trading. Winter markets, dark by about 4:05pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- Tell us about the event, the crowd and the pitch.
- We reply with our menu, prices for visitors and requirements.
- We send the documents the event asks for.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- When trading ends, the pitch is cleared and left clean.
Before we arrive
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Read more
How we price festival paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How long we’re needed on site
- The number of people
- Travel, parking and access
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.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The venue or postcode
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
For planners, venues and organisers
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a space won’t work. What matters most:
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- Trader information and site rules
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Giant paella pans
- Churros
About the dishes
Giant paella pans
It’s the giant pan people come to see.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A crowd-pleaser for meat eaters.
Towns and villages near Downton
Other catering in Downton
Common questions in Downton
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you do crew catering?
Yes. Crew, volunteer and VIP catering is available, with or without a public stall.
Can you handle a lunchtime rush?
It is one of the quickest hot foods to serve, ideal for peak times.
Do you come to Downton?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Downton. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
- 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