Hampshire · England
Festival & event paella in Headley Down, Hampshire
We cook paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events across Headley Down and Hampshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Seasonal markets
- Community events and open days
- Feeding crew and volunteers
Planning an event in Headley Down?
Festival paella catering in Headley Down, made fresh on the day
The cooking is part of the show. Visitors stop to watch, take photos and come back for lunch. Typical bookings include food and music festivals and summer fairs and fêtes, with chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and giant-pan paella.
Summer fairs around Headley Down are often run by volunteers, so a trader who brings everything and needs little help is a bonus. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
About the dishes
Giant paella pans
A pan the size of a cartwheel, full of saffron rice, cooking in full view.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Popular with families.
More for events in Headley Down
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ensure the line-up includes vegan and gluten-free options
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
We clear the pitch and leave it as we found it.
Crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
Who books festival paella catering in Headley Down?
It works at small fêtes and big festivals.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Race days and sports events
- Agricultural and county shows
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.
Comparing caterers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Payment terms and deposit
- A clear list of what’s included
Live paella or other catering?
For a stall that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
How the day works
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s served at its best. Summer events in Headley Down have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, so evening trading usually finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- You send us the event, dates and pitch details.
- We confirm our menu, pitch needs and documents.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Getting ready for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Headley Down, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Common questions in Headley Down
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Headley Down?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Can you handle a lunchtime rush?
Service from the pan is fast, which suits busy periods.
What do you need at the pitch?
We will confirm our needs once we know the pitch details.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Where we can cook in Headley Down
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
- The event’s site rules and timings
- A pitch away from tents and structures
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
- Giant paella pans
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Event catering near Headley Down
Headley Down is about 6 miles south of Farnham, in Hampshire. For an event in Headley Down, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Headley Down. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 13 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Liphook station is about 3.4 miles away. If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as The Holme Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Within about 4 miles is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Anywhere in GU35, we can bring festival paella catering to you. That could mean an event in a garden on Wilsons Road, Ludshott Grove and Fairview Road or the roads around them. With the B3002 close by, Headley Down is simple for us to get to for your event. For events just outside Headley Down, we cover Arford (1 mile west), Headley (1 mile west), Wishanger Common (2 miles north), Standford (2 miles south-west) and Lindford (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Farnborough (12 miles north), Fleet (11 miles north), Aldershot (9 miles north), Alton (8 miles west), Petersfield (10 miles south-west) and Yateley (15 miles north).
A little further out are Chase Community Hospital (2.8 miles west). The countryside around Headley Down includes Gibbet Hill and Deadwater Valley.
- Schools near Headley Down include Mill Chase Academy (2.2 miles west)
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
- 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