Hampshire · England
Festival & event paella in The Frenches, Hampshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in The Frenches.
- Country shows
- Festivals
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
Festival paella catering in The Frenches
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Schedule crew meals
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
We clear the pitch and leave it as we found it.
Tapas and churros can be added to a stall menu.
Festival paella catering in The Frenches, cooked live
The pans are part of the attraction. Visitors stop to watch, take photos and come back for lunch. For open days and community events and food and music festivals, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and churros for your guests.
A fête near The Frenches might be on a field with no mains power; let us know and we will plan for it. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. For an evening event in The Frenches, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- 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.
- At the end, we clear our pitch.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Give us a contact for the day
Get a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Where we can cook in The Frenches
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- Clear information on power, water and waste
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Tapas
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Towns and villages near The Frenches
Other catering in The Frenches
The Frenches events: pitches and permissions
The Frenches is about 3 miles west of Romsey, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in The Frenches, and we will plan access and set-up. The Frenches is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 9 miles away.
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. If you’re organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Embley, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
For festival paella catering in SO51, we plan around your venue and timings. Close by, we cover events in Shootash (1 mile east), Plaitford Green (2 miles west), West Wellow (2 miles south-west), East Wellow (2 miles south) and Blackhill (3 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (11 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles east), Andover (15 miles north), Totton (6 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are Romsey Community Hospital (3.4 miles east) and Romsey Extra (3 miles south-east). The countryside around The Frenches includes Copythorne Common.
Who books festival paella catering in The Frenches?
It feeds crew and volunteers well.
Whatever you are celebrating in The Frenches, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Village fêtes
- Sports clubs and race days
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Seasonal markets
For visitors coming by rail, Mottisfont & Dunbridge station is about 2.5 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How late numbers can change
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
What festival paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The date and rough timings
- Where the event is
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Giant paella pans
Huge pans of golden rice, cooking in full view.
The Frenches: your questions answered
Is The Frenches too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in The Frenches?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
How much does festival paella catering cost in The Frenches?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
What do you need at the venue?
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.
- 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