Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Blacknest, Hampshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Blacknest: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Naming days and family parties
Paella catering near Blacknest
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
About our paella catering in Blacknest
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. That is why it works for so many events. For christenings and family gatherings and birthday celebrations, we will put together a menu of mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella for your guests.
Somewhere like Blacknest, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
Send us the date, your venue or GU34 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Blacknest?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Bentley (Hampshire) station, about 0.5 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- When payment is due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What happens if it rains
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Is live paella right for your event?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- We cover Blacknest and the whole of Hampshire
- Drinks service on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Evenings in Blacknest stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including 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.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Paella catering around Blacknest
Blacknest is about 4 miles south-west of Farnham, in Hampshire. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Blacknest and nearby villages. Blacknest is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Blacknest to Guildford (about 14 miles away).
Historic houses near Blacknest include Farnham Castle (4.1 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Blacknest is within about 8 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Hampshire takes in GU34. We also cook at events in Bucks Horn Oak (1 mile east), Isington (1 mile west), Bentley (1 mile north-west), Binsted (1 mile south-west) and Frithend (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (12 miles north-west), Farnborough (9 miles north-east), Fleet (7 miles north), Aldershot (7 miles north-east), Alton (5 miles west) and Petersfield (12 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Chase Community Hospital (4.7 miles south) and Barley Pound (2.7 miles north). Not far away are Holybourne Hill and Farnham Heath.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Jolly Farmer pub (0.5 miles south-east)
FAQs for Blacknest
Do you come out to small places like Blacknest?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Blacknest close to London?
About 40 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Nearby places to Blacknest
Other catering in Blacknest
- 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