Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Fleet events
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 Fleet.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden get-togethers
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Paella catering for Fleet events
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Paella catering in Fleet, made fresh on the day
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately. Typical bookings include community events and fairs and garden parties and summer barbecues, with seafood paella, black rice and vegetable paella.
In Fleet, gardens come in all sizes, and most can host live paella with a little planning. Have a gazebo ready in case of showers. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Common questions in Fleet
We are having a ceremony at Fleet Methodist Church: 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 typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Fleet for guests?
The closest is Fleet station, roughly 1.2 miles away.
Do you cater in Fleet?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Fleet and the rest of Hampshire. For a quote, use our quote form.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
For event organisers in Fleet
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
What you get with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Catering across Hampshire, including Fleet
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Live paella in Fleet: local details
Fleet is about 13 miles south-east of Reading, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Fleet will be, and we will plan access and set-up. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Fleet to Guildford (about 12 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Fleet station, about 1.2 miles north. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Fleet Methodist Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Wherever your event is in GU51, GU52 and GU10, we can bring paella catering to you. Your event could be at a home on Church Road, Durnsford Avenue and Hankins Court or the roads around them. You’ll find Fleet on the A323 and A3013, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Church Crookham (1 mile south-east), Crookham Village (1 mile west), Elvetham Heath (1 mile north-west), Dogmersfield (2 miles west) and Elvetham (2 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (11 miles west), Farnborough (3 miles north-east), Aldershot (4 miles south-east), Alton (10 miles south-west), Yateley (4 miles north) and Tadley (14 miles north-west). Being one of Hampshire’s larger places, Fleet has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
A little further out are Royal Army Dental Corps Historical Museum (3.9 miles east) and Fleet Community Hospital (1 mile north-west). Open spaces near Fleet include Fleet Pond Nature Reserve and Hitches Hill.
- Nearby schools include Court Moor School (within half a mile south-west) and School (0.5 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Prince of Wales pub (under half a mile south-west)
Why choose paella catering in Fleet?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Heatherside Junior School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When final numbers are due
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Also near Fleet
Also in Fleet
Step by step
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. Evenings in Fleet stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- 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