Hampshire · England
Paella Party Catering for Freefolk events
Planning paella party catering in Freefolk? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Paella party catering in Freefolk
How the day works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. A summer party in Freefolk stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We arrive before your guests and set up.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Getting ready for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your party, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
About our paella party catering in Freefolk
You get to be a guest at your own party: no shopping, no cooking, no hours at the stove. We take care of the food. Popular choices include vegetable paella, tapas and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are regularly asked to cater big family gatherings and engagement and anniversary parties.
Near Freefolk, parties are frequently in gardens or fields. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we will plan the set-up. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Why choose live paella in Freefolk?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. Book us and you’re free to enjoy it. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Freefolk hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Catering across Hampshire, including Freefolk
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Hosting a paella party in Freefolk
Freefolk is about 8 miles east of Andover, in Hampshire. We cater parties at gardens, halls and venues around Freefolk and the surrounding area. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire. Our events stretch from Freefolk to Reading (about 20 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Whitchurch (Hampshire) station is about 1.4 miles away.
We cook at parties all over the RG28 postcode area. Whether your party is on London Road and Priory Lane or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. For parties just outside Freefolk, we cover Wells-in-the-Field (1 mile west), Whitchurch (1 mile west), Cole Henley (2 miles north-west), Firgo (3 miles south-west) and Hurstbourne Priors (3 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (9 miles east), Winchester (12 miles south), Andover (8 miles west), Tadley (11 miles north-east), Hook (15 miles east) and Hyde (12 miles south).
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Who books paella party catering in Freefolk?
It feels like a holiday in your own garden.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Freefolk book us for events such as:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before you book
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The venue requirements
- How each diet is kept separate
- The wet-weather plan
What affects the price in Freefolk
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The paellas you choose
- Parking and unloading
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What’s in the pans
Chicken & chorizo paella
It is one of the most popular pans at parties, though it is not traditional in Valencia.
Churros
All ages love churros.
Places near Freefolk
Also in Freefolk
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
- Give separate numbers for children
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Ensure most people can sit to eat
We keep the cooking area tidy and safe, with a clear space around the burners.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
Common questions in Freefolk
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary the Virgin: can you cater afterwards?
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 Freefolk?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
- 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