Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Finkley Down
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Finkley Down.
- Birthday celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Planning an event in Finkley Down?
Paella catering in Finkley Down, cooked live
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field. Popular choices include mixed paella, paella Valenciana and vegan paella, and we’re often booked for anniversaries and engagement parties and garden parties and summer barbecues.
In a small place like Finkley Down, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The venue or postcode
- Expected numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A photo of the space, if you can
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, use our quote form.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Finkley Down? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Events we cater in Finkley Down
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Birthday celebrations
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Vigo Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Before booking anyone
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- When payment is due
- When final numbers are due
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Around midsummer it stays light in Finkley Down until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Questions from Finkley Down
Is Finkley Down close to London?
Roughly 61 miles from the centre of London.
What’s the nearest station to Finkley Down for guests?
The closest is Andover station, roughly 2.1 miles away.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How much does paella catering cost in Finkley Down?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Catering an event in Finkley Down
Finkley Down is about 2 miles north-east of Andover, in Hampshire. From the centre of Finkley Down to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 21 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Andover station is about 2.1 miles away.
We cook at events all over the SP11 and SP10 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Adams Road, Munday Road and Strapp Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Picket Piece (1 mile east), Andover Down (1 mile south-east), Finkley (1 mile north), East Anton (1 mile north-west) and Picket Twenty (1 mile south). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (15 miles east), Winchester (12 miles south-east), Hyde (12 miles south-east), Tidworth (10 miles west), Weeke (11 miles south-east) and Kempshott (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Finkley Down Farm Museum (within half a mile west) and Andover War Memorial Hospital (2.1 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Mill Lake and Anton Lakes.
- Local schools include Winton Community Academy (1 mile south-west) and Winton Community Academy (1 mile south-west)
Catering for every guest
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Confirm allergies by email
- Tell us what else is being served
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Finkley Down hosts choose us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Fast service from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Nearby places to Finkley Down
More for events in Finkley Down
Where we can cook in Finkley Down
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo 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