Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Upham events
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Upham.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Community events and fairs
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Planning an event in Upham?
Catering for every guest
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Count adults and children separately
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
Paella catering for your event in Upham
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll recommend what fits your event. On the menu are vegan paella, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella, and we are regularly asked to cater office lunches and staff parties and weddings and evening receptions.
In a hamlet or village like Upham, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Who books paella catering in Upham?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Whatever you are celebrating in Upham, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hedge End station, about 4.4 miles south-west.
Before booking anyone
- The wet-weather plan
- Who provides the crockery
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether VAT is included
Also in Upham
Upham: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Upham?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Should we have more than one paella?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Which paella is most popular?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
Why choose live paella in Upham?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Events in Upham and across Hampshire
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Live paella in Upham: local details
Upham is about 5 miles east of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. For an event in Upham, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Upham is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 8 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Upham Church of England Aided Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Wherever your event is in SO32, we can cook for your guests. From Church Street, Shoe Lane and Widlers Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Ashton (1 mile south-east), Lower Upham (1 mile south-west), Wintershill (2 miles south-west), Durley Street (2 miles south-west) and Bishop's Waltham (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (6 miles north-west), Gosport (13 miles south), Havant (14 miles south-east), Eastleigh (5 miles west), Fareham (9 miles south) and Horndean (11 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Moorgreen Hospital (5.4 miles south-west) and Bishop's Waltham Museum (2.1 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Bishops Waltham Branch LNR and Beacon Hill.
- Nearby, you will find Brushmakers Arms (within half a mile north-east)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Planning an evening event in Upham? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up 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.
How to prepare
- Give us a contact for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
For event organisers in Upham
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
- 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