Portsmouth · England
Live paella catering in Portsmouth
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 Portsmouth.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Company summer parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering for Portsmouth events
Paella catering for your event in Portsmouth
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s exactly what we bring to your event in Portsmouth. We cook vegan paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are regularly asked to cater summer garden parties and festivals, fairs and school events.
Events in Portsmouth range from garden parties to office lunches. Town-centre venues can have tight access, so tell us about loading. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Portsmouth (PO6, PO4, PO1, PO2)
- County
- Portsmouth
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Also in Portsmouth
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. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What you get with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Catering across Portsmouth, including Portsmouth
- Drinks service on request
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
See How we price And The cost guide.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Evenings in Portsmouth stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Portsmouth: venues, travel and local tips
Portsmouth is in England. Across the PO6 area, we will come to your venue or garden. We cook in all 19 towns and villages in Portsmouth, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 16 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Manor Infant School, can book us as a food stall. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Wilfrid, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Portsmouth is within about 3 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
This part of Portsmouth takes in PO6, PO4, PO1 and PO2, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Church Road, April Square and Rudmore Square; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Portsmouth sits on or near the A3 and A27, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. If your venue is just outside Portsmouth, we also cover Rudmore (1 mile north-west), Landport (1 mile south-west), North End (1 mile north), Fratton (1 mile south-east) and Kingston (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Wymering (3 miles north), Paulsgrove (3 miles north), Drayton (3 miles north-east) and Farlington (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Tricorn Centre (0.7 miles south-west) and Royal Portsmouth Hospital (0.7 miles south-west). Open spaces near Portsmouth include Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
- Schools near Portsmouth include The Portsmouth Academy (under half a mile south-east) and St Edmund's Catholic School (0.7 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Druids Arms (less than half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include Southsea (1.9 miles south)
What affects the price in Portsmouth
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How long we are needed on site
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Where the event is
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Perfect for your event in Portsmouth
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Retirement celebrations
- Naming days and family parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Fratton station, about 0.9 miles south.
Comparing caterers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- When final numbers are due
- The wet-weather plan
- What the price includes, item by item
FAQs for Portsmouth
Can you cook near the sea around Portsmouth?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
We are having a ceremony at St Wilfrid: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve at the time you want.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Count adults and children separately
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Request clear labels at the serving table
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
- 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