Portsmouth · England
Paella Catering for Farlington events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Farlington. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Garden get-togethers
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement celebrations
Live paella catering in Farlington
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s typically the most photographed pan.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella catering in Farlington, made fresh on the day
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. On the menu are vegan paella, black rice and paella Valenciana, and we’re regularly asked to cater garden parties and summer barbecues and community events and fairs.
There may be a hall or club near Farlington if your garden is small; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Farlington (PO6, PO9, PO7)
- Region
- Portsmouth
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How the day works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Around midsummer it stays light in Farlington until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A clear, itemised quote
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Put allergy details in writing
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Mention any other courses or food
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Who books paella catering in Farlington?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Farlington, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Andrew, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- What the price includes, item by item
- The wet-weather plan
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Farlington questions
Can you cook near the sea around Farlington?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Andrew: 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.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Can we choose the seafood?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Planning live paella in Farlington
Farlington is about 2 miles south of Purbrook, in Portsmouth. For paella catering in Farlington, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Farlington. We cater in all 19 towns and villages in Portsmouth, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Farlington to Southampton (17 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Cosham station is about 1.5 miles away. Historic houses near Farlington include Warblington Castle (2.9 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Farlington is within about 6 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
For paella catering in PO6, PO9 and PO7, we plan around your venue and timings. Whether your event is on Galt Road, Grant Road and Havant Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Other places close to Farlington for paella catering include Drayton (1 mile west), Widley (1 mile north-west), Cosham (1 mile west), Bedhampton (1 mile north-east) and Purbrook (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Portsmouth (3 miles south-west), Southsea (5 miles south), Milton (4 miles south), Landport (4 miles south-west), Baffins (3 miles south) and Rudmore (3 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Warblington Castle (2.9 miles east) and Queen Alexandra Hospital (1.6 miles west). Not far away are Portsdown Hill and Southmoor Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Springfield School (0.7 miles west) and Springfield School (0.7 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find New Inn (0.7 miles west)
Places near Farlington
What else we do in Farlington
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Organising a club, school or community event in Farlington? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
- 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