Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Arford events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Arford. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Company summer parties
Paella catering for Arford events
Paella catering in Arford, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Whether it’s birthday celebrations and christenings and family gatherings, we can cook mixed paella, vegan paella and black rice and more.
Somewhere as small as Arford, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Places near Arford
What else we do in Arford
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
FAQs for Arford
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of All Saints?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Arford for guests?
Liphook station, about 3.6 miles south of the centre.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you cater for children?
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.
What seafood can we have?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
The process
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. Around midsummer it stays light in Arford until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Catering an event in Arford
Arford is about 6 miles south of Farnham, in Hampshire. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Arford and nearby villages. Arford is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Arford to Guildford (14 miles away).
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of All Saints, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Holme Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Arford is within about 4 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Here we cover the GU35 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Beech Hill Road, Arford Common and Headley Hill Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Arford for paella catering include Headley (1 mile south-west), Headley Down (1 mile east), Lindford (1 mile west), Standford (1 mile south-west) and Wishanger Common (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Farnborough (12 miles north), Fleet (11 miles north), Aldershot (9 miles north), Alton (7 miles west), Petersfield (10 miles south-west) and Yateley (15 miles north).
A little further out are Chase Community Hospital (2.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Arford include Deadwater Valley and Gibbet Hill.
- Nearby schools include Mill Chase Academy (1.6 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Holly Bush Inn (0.5 miles south-west)
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Give us separate numbers for children
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
Perfect for your event in Arford
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Arford, people book us for occasions like:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Christenings and family gatherings
For guests coming by train, Liphook station is about 3.6 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Travel and parking costs
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Is live paella right for your event?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Arford
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Timings and hours
- How many staff you need
- Your choice of paellas
- Whether you need crockery
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
- The address or venue name
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
- 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