Hampshire · England
Festival & event paella in Hardley, Hampshire
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Hardley: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- County and country shows
- Charity and school events
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
Festival paella catering for Hardley events
About our festival paella catering in Hardley
Because paella is cooked in big batches, it handles lunchtime rushes well. Portions are served in seconds. We’re frequently asked to cater open days and community events and festivals, with chicken and chorizo paella, churros and giant-pan paella.
At a fête or field event near Hardley, a paella stall brings a hot, filling meal to a rural site. Ground conditions and access matter, so tell us about them. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. At midsummer, events in Hardley stay light until about 9:20pm, so evening trading typically finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Tell us about the event and pitch.
- We send our menu, needs and paperwork.
- We arrive and set up at the agreed time.
- We cook in full view and serve all event.
- We clear and leave the pitch clean.
How to prepare
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Trader information and site rules
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
- Access for unloading at set-up
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Hardley
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
Hardley questions
Which station should guests use for Hardley?
The closest is Netley station, roughly 3.3 miles away.
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.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
Do you do crew catering?
Yes, at set times to suit your schedule. Tell us numbers and timings.
Hardley events: pitches and permissions
Hardley is about 2 miles south of Hythe, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the SO45 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Hardley is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook.
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as St Anne, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. For visitors coming by rail, Netley station is about 3.3 miles away. Within about 4 miles is the New Forest National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules. The coast is within about 4 miles of Hardley, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO45, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Harrier Way, Harrier Green and Falconer Court or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Little Holbury (1 mile south), Holbury (1 mile south), Frostlane (1 mile north), Roughdown (1 mile south) and Blackfield (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gosport (11 miles east), Eastleigh (9 miles north), Fareham (9 miles east), Totton (7 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (10 miles north) and Hedge End (7 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal South Hants Hospital (5.1 miles north) and Beaulieu Abbey And Display Of Monastic Life (2.9 miles west). The countryside around Hardley includes Mercury Marshes.
- Nearby schools include Manor Church of England Infant School (under half a mile south)
What festival paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Timings and hours
- Waiting and bar staff
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Roughly how many adults and children
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Perfect for your event in Hardley
It feeds crew and volunteers well on a long day.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Hardley book us for events such as:
- Village fêtes
- School and charity events
- Festivals
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as The New Forest Academy, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Comparing caterers
- How bad weather is handled
- The deadline for final numbers
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether travel is included
What’s in the pans
Giant paella pans
It is the huge pan people come to see.
Vegan paella
Vegan paella cooked separately.
Nearby places to Hardley
What else we do in Hardley
Paella compared with other options
For crew catering, sandwiches are easy but uninspiring. A hot paella keeps crew going. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why us?
- A quote that spells everything out
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Catering across Hampshire, including Hardley
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Check traders’ packaging and waste plans
- Schedule crew meals
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
We cook in full view of visitors, serving throughout the event.
Bowls and forks for eating on the go.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
- 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