Hampshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Portchester events
Planning wedding paella catering in Portchester? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Food for evening guests
- Big weddings with every diet
- Parties after a register office wedding
Wedding paella catering for Portchester events
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
How our wedding paella catering works in Portchester
Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff can be added, so the catering fits the way you want your day to feel. Popular choices include canapé tapas, evening paella and a paella wedding breakfast, and we are often booked for weddings in a marquee or garden and weddings with a Spanish theme.
Weddings in a place like Portchester often feel personal: a local church, then a marquee in a garden or field. Paella cooked on the lawn suits that perfectly. Tell us about access to the field or garden. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Questions from Portchester
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
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 generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Portchester for guests?
The closest is Portchester station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Is paella smart enough for a wedding?
It can be dressed up or kept relaxed, depending on presentation and service.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Can you cater the whole day?
We can. Canapé tapas, table tapas, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and desserts, or any part of that.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Evening paella
The process
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. For a summer wedding in Portchester, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, which means evening paella is typically served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- Tell us your date, venue and numbers.
- We plan your menu course by course.
- Timings are agreed with your venue.
- On the day, we cook and serve each course.
- We clear our area; staff stay as booked.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or PO16 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Desserts
To finish: Spanish desserts or your own cake.
Table tapas
Bowls and boards set down in the middle of each table, from bravas to croquetas and Manchego.
Live paella or other catering?
Food vans can create long queues. Paella is served quickly to many guests. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
How we price wedding paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The length of service
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How many staff you need
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- Where the event is
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Your date and when you want to eat
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Towns and villages near Portchester
What else we do in Portchester
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Ask about your date as soon as you have one
- Include any suppliers you are feeding
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Pick a serving style
The pans are frequently set up where guests can see them, and it makes a great photo.
Canapés during the photos keep hunger at bay.
Portchester weddings: local tips
Portchester is about 3 miles north-east of Gosport, in Hampshire. We cook at weddings in gardens, halls and venues around Portchester. Portchester is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 13 miles away.
Portsdown Hill nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos, and the countryside around Portchester suits an outdoor reception. Put the station on your invitation: Portchester station is about 0.5 miles away. With the coast within about 5 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
Anywhere in PO16, PO6 and PO17, we can bring wedding paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Cow Lane, Hill Road and Ralph Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater weddings in 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). Larger places within reach include 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).
Nearby you will also find 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.
- Local schools include Portchester Community School (less than half a mile west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Cormorant pub (under half a mile south-east)
Events we cater in Portchester
It gives guests something to do between the ceremony and the meal: watch the pans.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Farm and barn venues
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St Mary frequently hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so it’s ready as guests arrive.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- Payment terms and deposit
- A clear list of what’s included
- The venue requirements
- 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