Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Lower Upham events
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Lower Upham and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Garden get-togethers
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Birthday celebrations
Planning an event in Lower Upham?
Paella catering in Lower Upham, made fresh on the day
A couple of different pans covers everyone: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. We cook vegan paella, paella Valenciana and seafood paella, and we are regularly asked to cater anniversary celebrations and company summer parties.
In a small place like Lower Upham, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Confirm allergies by email
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Towns and villages near Lower Upham
Other catering in Lower Upham
The process
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Lower Upham? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Lower Upham? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Read more
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Your choice of paellas
- Waiting and bar staff
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
- The courses you’d like
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Questions from Lower Upham
Do you come out to small places like Lower Upham?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: 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 usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Who books paella catering in Lower Upham?
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
In Lower Upham and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Retirement celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- The deadline for final numbers
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether travel is included
- How bad weather is handled
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Why choose live paella in Lower Upham?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What you get with us
- Catering across Hampshire, including Lower Upham
- A quote that spells everything out
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Lower Upham? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Planning live paella in Lower Upham
Lower Upham is about 4 miles east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Lower Upham and nearby villages. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 7 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Upham Church of England Aided Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hedge End station, about 3.4 miles south-west.
We cover events in every part of the SO32 postcode area. Local streets include Upham Street, Winchester Road and Portsmouth Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Wintershill (1 mile south), Upham (1 mile north-east), Durley Street (1 mile south), Ashton (1 mile east) and Fair Oak (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Winchester (6 miles north-west), Gosport (13 miles south), Havant (14 miles south-east), Eastleigh (4 miles west), Fareham (9 miles south) and Horndean (11 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Bishop's Waltham Museum (2.2 miles south-east) and Moorgreen Hospital (4.4 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Bishops Waltham Branch LNR and Twyford Down.
- Local schools include Wyvern Technology College (2.2 miles south-west)
- 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