Hampshire · England
Paella Party Catering in Portchester
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events for events in Portchester.
- Summer garden parties
- Celebrations of life
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella party catering near Portchester
Perfect for your party in Portchester
It feeds a crowd without anyone stuck in the kitchen, and it’s a talking point.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Portchester book us for events such as:
- Christenings and naming days
- Retirement celebrations
- Celebrations of life
- Garden get-togethers
After a christening at a church like Church of St Mary, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
What to look for in a quote
- What happens if it rains
- What the price includes, item by item
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Paella party catering in Portchester, made fresh on the day
Paella is relaxed food: it’s served from the pan and shared, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. Popular choices include vegetable paella, tapas and churros, and typical bookings are for anniversary celebrations and summer garden parties.
Parties around Portchester are often relaxed, garden-and-gazebo affairs. Live paella fits right in. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Ensure most people can sit to eat
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
We arrive before your guests to set up.
Churros with chocolate are a hit with children and adults.
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
Should I cook it myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. For a late-May party in Portchester, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it is about 9:20pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
How we price paella party catering
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Where the event is
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Seafood paella typically gets the photos, and is best served with lemon.
Churros
All ages love churros.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Questions from Portchester
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Portchester from London?
Roughly 64 miles from the centre of London.
How early should we book?
As early as you can for summer weekends, which fill up first. Ask about your date.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can you supply crockery?
We can. Let us know and we will add it to the quote.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Hosting a paella party in Portchester
Portchester is about 3 miles north-east of Gosport, in Hampshire. Anywhere in PO16, we can cook for your guests. We cater in all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 13 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Portchester station is about 0.5 miles away. The coast is within about 5 miles, so seafood paella frequently features, with shelter from the breeze planned in.
Anywhere in PO16, PO6 and PO17, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your party is on Cow Lane, Hill Road and Ralph Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Boarhunt (2 miles north-west), Southwick (2 miles north), Elson (2 miles south-west), Wallington (2 miles west) and Priddy's Hard (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (3 miles south-west), Havant (6 miles east), Eastleigh (13 miles north-west), Fareham (3 miles west), Horndean (7 miles north-east) and Chandler's Ford (15 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Portchester Castle (less than half a mile south-east) and Queen Alexandra Hospital (2.3 miles east). Green spaces nearby include West of the River Alver and Portsdown Hill.
- Nearby schools include Portchester Community School (within half a mile west)
- Pubs nearby include The Cormorant pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Also near Portchester
Other catering in Portchester
- 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