Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Four Marks
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Four Marks. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Community events and fairs
- Office lunches and staff parties
Paella catering for Four Marks events
About our paella catering in Four Marks
Paella is generous food: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. Whether it is fairs, fêtes and festivals and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook black rice, seafood paella and mixed paella.
In and around Four Marks, gardens and local halls are common choices. If access is tight, we will plan around it. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
How we price paella catering
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Diets and allergies you know about
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
FAQs for Four Marks
How far is Four Marks from London?
Roughly 49 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of the Good Shepherd?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Our menu lists the options.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
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.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Places near Four Marks
More for events in Four Marks
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Mention any other courses or food
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
What happens on the day
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Evenings in Four Marks stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Four Marks: venues, travel and local tips
Four Marks is about 4 miles south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. For an event in Four Marks, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in 683 places in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 20 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 4.6 miles away. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Four Marks Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Wherever your event is in GU34, we can bring paella catering to you. We can cater an event on streets such as Read's Field, River Close and Chalk Close. Other places close to Four Marks for paella catering include Medstead (1 mile north), Soldridge (1 mile west), South Town (2 miles north-west), New Copse (2 miles north) and Hattingley (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (11 miles north), Winchester (12 miles west), Fleet (15 miles north-east), Horndean (14 miles south), Alton (4 miles north-east) and Petersfield (9 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Barton Castle (3.5 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (3.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Four Marks includes Red Hill.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Four Marks. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- We cover Four Marks and the whole of Hampshire
Perfect for your event in Four Marks
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
In Four Marks and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Family celebrations and christenings
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of the Good Shepherd, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- VAT, if it applies
- How bad weather is handled
- 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