Hampshire · England
Festival & event paella in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Lee-on-the-Solent: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- Agricultural and county shows
- Village fêtes
Festival paella catering near Lee-on-the-Solent
A closer look at the menu
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Popular with families.
Festival paella catering in Lee-on-the-Solent, made fresh on the day
Paella in a bowl is perfect festival food, on the move or on a picnic rug. On the menu are seafood paella, churros and vegan paella, and typical bookings are for farmers’ and Christmas markets and feeding crew and volunteers.
Summer fairs around Lee-on-the-Solent are frequently run by volunteers, so a self-sufficient trader makes life easier. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Live paella or other catering?
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. A giant pan cooking in view sells itself. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why book with us
- Drinks service on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Catering across Hampshire, including Lee-on-the-Solent
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Also near Lee-on-the-Solent
More for events in Lee-on-the-Solent
Fairs, fêtes and events in Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent is about 2 miles west of Gosport, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the PO13 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cater in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 12 miles away.
Running a fête for a church like Church of St Faith? A paella pan draws people in. If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Lee-On-the-Solent Infant and Nursery School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The coast is within about 5 miles of Lee-on-the-Solent, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch.
Anywhere in PO13, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include High Street, Victoria Square and Wheatcroft Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Crofton (1 mile north), Peel Common (1 mile north), Rowner (2 miles north-east), Bridgemary (2 miles north-east) and Gosport (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Havant (10 miles north-east), Eastleigh (13 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles north), Horndean (11 miles north-east), Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-west) and Hedge End (9 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Fareham Shopping Centre (3.6 miles north) and Gosport War Memorial Hospital (2.1 miles east). Green spaces nearby include West of the River Alver.
- Schools near Lee-on-the-Solent include Crofton School (1.4 miles north) and Baycroft School (1.4 miles north)
Questions from Lee-on-the-Solent
Do you trade at school fairs around Lee-on-the-Solent?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Which station should guests use for Lee-on-the-Solent?
The closest is Fareham station, roughly 3.5 miles away.
Can you trade at our festival or fair?
Send us the event details, dates and pitch information, and we will let you know if we are available.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Where we can cook in Lee-on-the-Solent
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Trader information and site rules
- Room for our cooking and serving area
- Access for unloading at set-up
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Giant paella pans
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
- Churros
For event organisers in Lee-on-the-Solent
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Lee-on-the-Solent? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Summer events in Lee-on-the-Solent have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:10pm by late September, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Send the event name, expected visitors and pitch size.
- You get our stall menu and what we need on site.
- Paperwork goes over in good time.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- When trading ends, the pitch is cleared and left clean.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
- Put all trader information in one pack
We cook in full view of visitors, serving throughout the event.
Vegan paella alongside the rest.
Why choose festival paella catering in Lee-on-the-Solent?
It feeds crew and volunteers well on a long day.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Lee-on-the-Solent book us for occasions like:
- Food and music festivals
- Charity and school events
- Agricultural and county shows
- Sports clubs and race days
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Fareham station, about 3.5 miles north.
What your quote should include
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the price includes, item by item
- 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