Hampshire · England
Festival Paella Catering in Emery Down
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Emery Down: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Sports club events
- Food and music festivals
Festival paella catering near Emery Down
Dishes our guests love
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling.
Vegan paella
A proper vegan main, in its own pan.
About our festival paella catering in Emery Down
The cooking is part of the show. Visitors stop to watch, take photos and come back for lunch. Typical bookings include village fêtes and open days and community events, with giant-pan paella, churros and seafood paella.
A fête near Emery Down might be on a field with no mains power; tell us what’s available and we will plan around it. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Fairs, fêtes and events in Emery Down
Emery Down is about 5 miles south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Emery Down. Emery Down is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Emery Down to Southampton (about 9 miles away).
Running a fête for a church like Christ Church? A paella pan draws people in. For visitors coming by rail, Ashurst New Forest station is about 2.9 miles away. Within about a mile is the New Forest National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO43, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Garden Close, Northerwood Avenue and Silver Street, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Lyndhurst (1 mile east), Balmerlawn (3 miles south), Ashurst (4 miles north-east), Brockenhurst (4 miles south) and Colbury (4 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Eastleigh (12 miles north-east), Totton (5 miles north-east), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north-east), Hedge End (13 miles east), Lymington (8 miles south) and Romsey (10 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Ashurst Hospital (3.1 miles north-east) and National Dairy Museum (3.9 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Copythorne Common.
- Local pubs include The Swan Inn (within half a mile south)
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. Summer events in Emery Down have daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer and about 7:10pm by late September, so evening trading normally finishes in daylight in high summer. Winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- We confirm what we’ll serve, our pitch needs and any paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Why choose live paella in Emery Down?
For a stall that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. 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 you get with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Common questions in Emery Down
Which station should guests use for Emery Down?
The closest is Ashurst New Forest station, roughly 2.9 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like Emery Down?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you have vegan options at events?
Yes, always. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Can you handle a lunchtime rush?
Big batches and service from the pan keep things moving.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
Occasions we cook for in Emery Down
It suits outdoor events of all sizes.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Emery Down, people book us for events such as:
- Open days
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Country shows
- Food and music festivals
If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as St Michael and All Angels CofE Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- How bad weather is handled
- Travel and parking costs
- How late numbers can change
- What the caterer needs from your venue
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
- Firm, level ground
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
What affects the price in Emery Down
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Larger events usually cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Also near Emery Down
Also in Emery Down
- 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