Portsmouth · England
Festival & event paella in Hilsea, Portsmouth
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hilsea. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Village fêtes
- Open days
- Feeding crew and volunteers
Festival paella catering in Hilsea
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Evening events in Hilsea have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- On the day, we arrive and set up our pitch.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We pack down and leave the pitch tidy.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Festival paella catering for your event in Hilsea
Paella in a bowl is perfect festival food, standing up or sitting on the grass. For community events and open days and VIP and hospitality areas, we’ll put together a menu of churros, giant-pan paella and vegan paella and more.
For events in a place like Hilsea, one hot-food trader that suits most diets makes life easy. A paella stall does that. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Hilsea (PO2, PO3, PO6)
- Area hub
- Portsmouth
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Hilsea
Which station should guests use for Hilsea?
The closest is Hilsea station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
How far is Hilsea from London?
Roughly 63 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Should we have more than one paella?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Do you come to Hilsea?
We do. Hilsea is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
For event organisers in Hilsea
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Access for unloading at set-up
- The event’s site rules and timings
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
Also in Hilsea
Running an event in Hilsea
Hilsea is about 2 miles north of Portsmouth, in Portsmouth. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Hilsea and the surrounding area. We cover all 19 towns and villages in Portsmouth, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 15 miles away.
If your event is in Alexandra Park, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission; we’ll supply our paperwork. School fairs, for a school like Gatcombe Park Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. The coast is within about 4 miles of Hilsea, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch.
We cater events across the PO2, PO3 and PO6 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Vita Road, Conan Road and Arras Road. Nearby, we also cater events in Cosham (1 mile north), North End (1 mile south-west), Tipner (1 mile south-west), Wymering (1 mile north) and Rudmore (1 mile south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Southsea (3 miles south), Portsea (3 miles south-west) and Portsmouth Point (3 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include World War I Remembrance Centre (0.8 miles east) and Tricorn Centre (2.1 miles south-west). Not far away are Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
- Nearby schools include Trafalgar School (under half a mile north-west) and Springfield School (1.3 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include Coach and Horses pub (under half a mile north)
Who books festival paella catering in Hilsea?
It feeds crew and volunteers well.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Hilsea and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Music and food festivals
- School and charity events
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Hilsea station, about 0.5 miles east.
What to look for in a quote
- Space, access and power needs
- When final numbers are due
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and time of the event
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Send us the date, your venue or PO2 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Events in Hilsea and across Portsmouth
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Dishes our guests love
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid.
- 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