Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Charlton, Hampshire
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Charlton.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
Live paella catering in Charlton
How our paella catering works in Charlton
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We cook vegan paella, mixed paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for community events and fairs and engagement and anniversary parties.
In a small place like Charlton, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. 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. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Is live paella right for your event?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Events in Charlton and across Hampshire
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Places near Charlton
Also in Charlton
Perfect for your event in Charlton
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Charlton and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Community events and fairs
- Summer garden parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Harrow Way Community School, can book us as a food stall.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deadline for final numbers
- The deposit and payment dates
- How each diet is kept separate
- Travel and parking costs
Live paella in Charlton: local details
Charlton is about 1 mile north-west of Andover, in Hampshire. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Charlton. Charlton is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 22 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Thomas, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Andover station is about 0.8 miles away.
For paella catering in SP10, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Dacre Close, Home Farm Gardens and Augustine Way or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Foxcotte (1 mile north-west), Penton Mewsey (1 mile west), Penton Corner (1 mile west), Penton Grafton (1 mile west) and Red Post Bridge (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (14 miles south-east), Hyde (13 miles south-east), Tidworth (7 miles west), Weeke (13 miles south-east), Stanmore (14 miles south-east) and Ludgershall (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Andover War Memorial Hospital (0.5 miles south-east) and Andover Museum (1.3 miles south-east). Not far away are Anton Lakes and Mill Lake.
- Nearby schools include Portway Infant School (0.8 miles south)
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Charlton? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
What happens on the day
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Planning an evening event in Charlton? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Ask for labels on each pan
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
What affects the price in Charlton
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many guests are eating
- Waiting and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Parking and unloading
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
FAQs for Charlton
Which station should guests use for Charlton?
The closest is Andover station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
We’re having a ceremony at St Thomas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cook inside?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you bring everything you need?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
What seafood can we have?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
- 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