Hampshire · England
Festival Paella Catering in Rake
We cook paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Rake and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- School fairs and fundraisers
- County and country shows
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
Live festival paella catering in Rake
How our festival paella catering works in Rake
Few street foods pull a crowd like a giant paella pan. The sight and smell of it cooking brings people over, and portions are served quickly from the pan. We are often asked to cater school and charity events and open days and community events, serving vegan paella, churros and chicken and chorizo paella.
At a fête or field event near Rake, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Ground conditions and access matter, so tell us about them. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- Vehicle access to the pitch at set-up and break-down
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
Diets, allergies and planning
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
- Make sure the line-up includes vegan and gluten-free options
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
- Ask traders about serving speed at peak times
Pans cook in full view, and serve from the pan throughout the event.
Vegan paella alongside the rest.
Questions from Rake
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Rake too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Can you trade at our festival or fair?
Send us the details, and we’ll reply with our availability and what we need.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you do crew catering?
Yes, at set times to suit your schedule. Tell us numbers and timings.
For planners, venues and organisers
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 can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
What festival paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Anything your venue supplies
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of the space, if you can
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
Not every trader covers vegans. A paella stall can have a vegan pan alongside the rest. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Fast service from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
Towns and villages near Rake
Also in Rake
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
The menu, dish by dish
Giant paella pans
Huge pans of golden rice.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan.
Community events around Rake
Rake is about 4 miles north-east of Petersfield, in Hampshire. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Rake and nearby villages. Rake is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. Our events stretch from Rake to Guildford (19 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Rake CofE Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Running a fête for a church like Rake Mission Church? A paella pan draws people in. Within about 5 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Festival paella catering in GU33 is planned around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include London Road, Brewells Lane and St Patrick's Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. If your venue is just outside Rake, we also cover The Mint (1 mile north-west), Hill Brow (1 mile south-west), Liss (1 mile west), Liss Forest (1 mile north-west) and West Liss (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Havant (14 miles south-west), Horndean (12 miles south-west), Aldershot (15 miles north), Alton (9 miles north-west), Waterlooville (14 miles south-west) and Petersfield (4 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Chase Community Hospital (4.2 miles north). Not far away are Liss Riverside Railway Walk North and Wheeler's Down.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Sun Inn (within half a mile south)
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. Summer events in Rake have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, which helps evening trading. Winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- First, we check the dates.
- We agree what we will serve and where.
- Burners and pans go up.
- The first pans are ready as visitors arrive.
- We serve, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
- 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