Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Fareham events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Fareham. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering for Fareham events
Paella catering in Fareham, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is exactly what we bring to your event in Fareham. We cook vegetable paella, vegan paella and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater company summer parties and christenings and family gatherings.
Most events in a town like Fareham are in gardens, halls with outdoor space or hired venues. Each works well, as long as there is a level spot to cook and somewhere close to park. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Occasions we cook for in Fareham
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, Fareham has its own station, Fareham station.
What to look for in a quote
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Allergen information for each dish
- What happens if it rains
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
What paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How long we are needed on site
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and rough timings
- Expected numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The courses you’d like
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning live paella in Fareham
Fareham is about 10 miles south-east of Southampton, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Fareham or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Fareham to Southampton (10 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Jude's Catholic Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St John The Evangelist, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The coast is within about 5 miles of Fareham, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the PO16, PO14, PO15 and SO31 postcode area. Whether your event is on Delme Square, High Street and Brookmeadow or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Fareham is on the A27 and A32, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Other places close to Fareham for paella catering include Fareham Common (1 mile east), Wallington (1 mile east), North Fareham (1 mile north-east), Peel Common (2 miles south) and Welborne (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (15 miles north), Gosport (4 miles south-east), Havant (9 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles north-west), Horndean (9 miles north-east) and Totton (14 miles west). Being one of Hampshire’s larger places, Fareham has lots of places to hold an event.
Well-known places in the area include Carron Row Farm Museum (1.7 miles west) and Knowle Hospital (2 miles north). The countryside around Fareham includes Portsdown Hill and West of the River Alver.
- Schools near Fareham include Fareham Academy (0.5 miles south) and Wykeham House School (1.1 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Lord Arthur Lee pub (0.7 miles east)
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Fareham? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Common questions in Fareham
What’s the nearest station to Fareham for guests?
Fareham has its own station: Fareham station.
We’re having a ceremony at St John The Evangelist: 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 generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan for them.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Do you cater in Fareham?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Fareham and across Hampshire. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. 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 book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Catering across Hampshire, including Fareham
- A clear, itemised quote
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Count adults and children separately
- Let us know about other food at the event
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
More for events in Fareham
Step by step
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. Planning an evening event in Fareham? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Related guides
- 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