Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Fair Oak, Hampshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Fair Oak.
- Company summer parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings and evening receptions
Planning an event in Fair Oak?
Paella catering for your event in Fair Oak
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. We are often asked to cater christenings and family gatherings and festivals, fairs and school events, with mixed paella, black rice and seafood paella.
A place like Fair Oak frequently has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Organising for someone else?
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Nearby places to Fair Oak
What else we do in Fair Oak
What affects the price in Fair Oak
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The paellas you choose
- Parking and unloading
- How many guests are eating
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Live paella in Fair Oak: local details
Fair Oak is about 2 miles east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Fair Oak and nearby villages. We cover 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hedge End station, about 2.2 miles south. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Saint Thomas, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
For paella catering in SO50, we plan around your venue. Local streets include Dean Road, Witt Road and Sandy Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Fair Oak, we cover Horton Heath (1 mile south), Wintershill (2 miles east), Durley (2 miles south-east), Lower Upham (2 miles east) and Durley Street (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Winchester (7 miles north), Gosport (13 miles south-east), Havant (15 miles south-east), Fareham (9 miles south-east), Horndean (13 miles east) and Totton (10 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Moorgreen Hospital (2.7 miles south-west) and Eastleigh Museum (2.5 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Bishops Waltham Branch LNR.
- Nearby schools include Wyvern Technology College (under half a mile south) and Wyvern Technology College (within half a mile south)
- Local pubs include The Old George Public House (within half a mile north)
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. In Fair Oak, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Give us a contact for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Mention any other courses or food
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Why choose paella catering in Fair Oak?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Fair Oak book us for occasions like:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Fair Oak Junior School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- The venue requirements
- VAT, if it applies
- Who provides the crockery
- How late numbers can change
FAQs for Fair Oak
We are having a ceremony at Saint Thomas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Fair Oak?
The closest is Hedge End station, roughly 2.2 miles away.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
What does paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can we choose the seafood?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
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.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
- 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