Portsmouth · England
Paella catering in PO2
Paella, tapas and desserts across PO2, covering Hilsea, Rudmore and North End. For weddings, parties and corporate events, with every diet catered for.
Planning an event in PO2?
Places in PO2
Events we cater in PO2
- Live paella catering
- Tapas & canapé catering
- Wedding paella catering
- Corporate paella catering
- Festival & event paella
- Paella party catering
- See all our catering
Tell us your date, numbers and venue for a quote: fill in our quote form.
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About paella catering in PO2
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it is ready, we serve it hot from the pan. We cook paella Valenciana, black rice and seafood paella, and we are often booked for weddings and evening receptions and big birthdays.
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- 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 from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
What you’ll pay
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Getting a price
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
What’s near Hilsea
You will find us cooking near Coach and Horses pub, St Francis' Church and Gatcombe Park Primary School, among other places. Other local landmarks include Springfield School (1.3 miles north-east), Trafalgar School (less than half a mile north-west) and Alexandra Park (0.6 miles south-west). The closest station to Hilsea is Hilsea station, about 0.5 miles east of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include World War I Remembrance Centre (0.8 miles east) and Tricorn Centre (2.1 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Milton Locks and Portsdown Hill.
Catering events across PO2
There are 3 towns and 0 villages and hamlets in PO2, so whether your event is in Landport, Hilsea and Wymering or a quiet village, the approach is the same: level ground, ventilation and agreed timings. Around 10 places in PO2 are close to the coast, where we always plan shelter from the wind, and seafood paella is popular.
Hilsea: Historic houses near Hilsea include Warblington Castle (4.7 miles east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. Parks such as Alexandra Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. Planning an evening event in Hilsea? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
Space, weather and the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work. What matters most:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Working with your venue
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- Guest numbers
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Why live paella works
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
These are some of the occasions we cater around PO2:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Your questions about paella catering in PO2
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Which paella is most popular?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
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 will help you decide the split.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including PO2.
- 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