Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Upper Kingston
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 Upper Kingston.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering near Upper Kingston
Paella catering for your event in Upper Kingston
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll suggest what suits your event. For fairs, fêtes and festivals and retirement celebrations, we can cook paella Valenciana, mixed paella and black rice for your guests.
Somewhere like Upper Kingston, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Put allergy details in writing
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The venue or postcode
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell usually draws people over. In Upper Kingston, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:05pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Questions from Upper Kingston
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Trinity Congregational Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Other catering in Upper Kingston
Why choose paella catering in Upper Kingston?
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.
Whatever you are celebrating in Upper Kingston, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
- Family celebrations and christenings
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Trinity Congregational Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- Who provides the crockery
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Payment terms and deposit
Upper Kingston: venues, travel and local tips
Upper Kingston is in Hampshire. From the centre of Upper Kingston to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Upper Kingston is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 18 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Avon Tyrrell House (2.6 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Ringwood Junior School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The New Forest National Park is within about 4 miles of Upper Kingston. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the BH24 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. We also cook at events in Crow (1 mile east), Hightown (1 mile north-east), Bagnum (1 mile south-east), Ringwood (1 mile north) and Poulner (1 mile north). Further out, we also cater in Totton (13 miles north-east), Lymington (11 miles south-east), New Milton (7 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (8 miles south-east), Marchwood (15 miles east) and Ashley (7 miles south-east).
A little further out are St Leonard's Hospital (3.8 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Nearby schools include Ringwood School (1.2 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Elm Tree Inn (0.8 miles north)
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
- 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