Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Crawley, Hampshire
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Crawley and across Hampshire.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering for Crawley events
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evenings in Crawley stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s 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 in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Paella catering in Crawley, cooked live
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. On the menu are vegetable paella, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for fairs, fêtes and festivals and company summer parties.
Somewhere as small as Crawley, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Crawley: venues, travel and local tips
Crawley is about 5 miles north-west of Winchester, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Crawley, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire. Our events stretch from Crawley to Southampton (about 13 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO21. We also cook at events in Worthy Down (3 miles east), South Wonston (3 miles east), Sutton Scotney (4 miles north-east), Barton Stacey (4 miles north) and Springvale (4 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (5 miles south-east), Eastleigh (10 miles south), Andover (8 miles north-west), Totton (14 miles south), Chandler's Ford (9 miles south) and Hedge End (14 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Winchester Castle (4.8 miles south-east) and Royal Hampshire County Hospital (4.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Crawley includes Winnall Moors.
- Nearby, you’ll find Fox And Hounds Public House (less than half a mile south-east)
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- A clear, itemised quote
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Questions from Crawley
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is Crawley 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 feed a lot of people?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How much does paella catering cost in Crawley?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
What seafood can we have?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is normally the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
How does live paella catering work?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Why choose paella catering in Crawley?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winchester station, about 4.5 miles south-east.
Comparing caterers
- Staff numbers and hours
- If the price includes VAT
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The venue requirements
Places near Crawley
Other catering in Crawley
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Organising a club, school or community event in Crawley? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many guests are eating
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
To speed things up, tell us:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- 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