Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Medstead
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Medstead: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Summer garden parties
Planning an event in Medstead?
Paella catering in Medstead, made fresh on the day
There’s something generous about paella: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, black rice and vegetable paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater retirement celebrations and office lunches and staff parties.
There may be a hall or club near Medstead if your garden is small; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
On the menu in Medstead
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Towns and villages near Medstead
What else we do in Medstead
What affects the price in Medstead
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
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.
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Around midsummer it stays light in Medstead until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- 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
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Who books paella catering in Medstead?
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Alton station, about 4.4 miles north-east.
Comparing caterers
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- A clear list of what’s included
- How long the team stays
For event organisers in Medstead
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.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Paella catering around Medstead
Medstead is about 4 miles south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the GU34 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 20 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Bentworth Hall (2.1 miles north) and Hall Place (2.6 miles north). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of the Good Shepherd, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Anywhere in GU34, we can bring paella catering to you. Streets in the area include High Street, Five Ash Road and Stoney Lane, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Four Marks (1 mile south), South Town (1 mile north-west), Soldridge (1 mile south-west), New Copse (1 mile north) and Hattingley (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (10 miles north), Winchester (12 miles west), Fleet (14 miles north-east), Horndean (15 miles south), Alton (4 miles north-east) and Petersfield (9 miles south-east).
A little further out are Barton Castle (3 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (3.1 miles north-east). Open spaces near Medstead include Red Hill.
Questions from Medstead
Which station should guests use for Medstead?
The closest is Alton station, roughly 4.4 miles away.
We are having a ceremony at Church of the Good Shepherd: 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 normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How much does paella catering cost in Medstead?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
- 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