Portsmouth · England
Paella party catering in Drayton, Portsmouth
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Drayton: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Milestone birthdays
- Family reunions
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Paella party catering in Drayton
Paella party catering in Drayton, made fresh on the day
A paella party takes the cooking off your hands without turning the day into a formal dinner. We set up in the garden or venue and cook as your guests chat. We cook seafood paella, churros and tapas, and we’re frequently booked for family reunions and big birthdays.
Parties around Drayton are frequently relaxed, garden-and-gazebo affairs. A paella pan fits right in. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Where
- Drayton (PO6)
- Area hub
- Portsmouth
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
For event organisers in Drayton
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Other catering in Drayton
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable paella
Vegetable paella in its own right.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky, satisfying and popular with children, ideal for guests who skip seafood.
Live paella or other catering?
Home-made buffets take ages and sit out for hours. Paella is cooked fresh and served hot. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Drayton hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Questions from Drayton
Can you cater a reception after a service at Drayton Methodist Church?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which station should guests use for Drayton?
Cosham station, about 1 mile west of the centre.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Drayton parties: what to know
Drayton is about 2 miles south of Purbrook, in Portsmouth. From the centre of Drayton to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Drayton is one of 19 towns and villages in Portsmouth where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 16 miles away.
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Drayton Methodist Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. Historic houses near Drayton include Warblington Castle (3.4 miles east). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Near the coast, within about 5 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice.
We cook at parties all over PO6 and the streets around it. That could mean a party in a garden on Galt Road, Hirst Road and Court Lane. We also cook at parties in Farlington (1 mile east), Widley (1 mile north), Cosham (1 mile west), Wymering (1 mile west) and Hilsea (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Portsmouth (3 miles south-west), Southsea (4 miles south), Milton (4 miles south), Landport (3 miles south-west), Baffins (3 miles south) and Rudmore (3 miles south-west).
A little further out are Portchester Castle (3.1 miles west) and World War I Remembrance Centre (1 mile south). Green spaces nearby include Portsdown Hill and Southmoor Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Solent Junior School (less than half a mile north-east)
- Local pubs include New Inn (less than half a mile north-west)
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Count adults and children separately
- Warn the neighbours
- Ensure most people can sit to eat
Booked staff help serve and clear.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
How we price paella party catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Where the event is
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your party in Drayton, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it’s light in Drayton until about 9:20pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:10pm; add lights for the evening.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Related guides
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- 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