Authentic paella plus curries, tagine and jambalaya — cooked live in a 90cm pan in front of your guests. Three menu tiers from £12.25pp. Minimum 50 guests.
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Big Pan, Giant Pan & Paella Catering
Live cooking. Giant pans. Every time.
In short
Giant pan catering (also called “big pan” or paella catering) is live paella-style cooking at your venue — your chosen dish cooked in a single large pan in front of guests. Salt Wind Catering serves 19 dishes across three tiers (paella, curries, lamb tagine, beef goulash, jambalaya and chowder, with vegetarian and vegan options on every tier) from £12.25 per head, across Cornwall and Devon. Minimum 50 guests, so the smallest giant pan booking is £612.50 (50 guests on the Essential menu); we bring the pans, gas burners, plates and cutlery, fully self-contained.
Prices are effective 7 July 2026 and are held for 2027 bookings. There isno travel charge anywhere in Cornwall and no minimum spend; Devon is quoted separately, with travel included on orders over £500 for Plymouth and Tavistock, over £1,500 for the rest of Devon, and £1 per mile round-trip from Redruth below that.
We cook live at your venue — paella, curries, tagine, goulash, chowder and more. Your guests watch it happening. The sizzle, the steam, the smell drifting across the field. It's not just catering, it's part of the event.
Three tiers from £12.25pp. The Essential Menu is all veggie and vegan. The Signature Menu goes up to seafood paella, lamb tagine and Hungarian beef goulash. Groups of 80 or more can pick 2 dishes from the same tier at no extra cost.
We bring everything — pans, burners, plates and cutlery. Popular at weddings, corporate events, garden parties and festivals across Cornwall and Devon.
What's included
Min 50 guests · 80+ guests? Choose 2 dishes from the same tier at no extra cost · Fully self-sufficient · Disposable plates & cutlery included
Menu tiers
Essential — vegetarian & vegan dishes from £12.25pp. Classic — meat dishes from £14.95pp. Signature — premium ingredients from £16.75pp.
A big pan party is the whole event built around the pan — birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, summer garden parties and club fundraisers, where the cooking is the entertainment rather than something that happens out of sight. We set up, cook in front of your guests and serve straight from the pan, from £12.25 per head, minimum 50 guests, anywhere in Cornwall with no travel charge.
Authentic Paella
Yes — we do the real thing
Proper Spanish paella built from scratch on the 90cm pan — Bomba rice, generous saffron, slow sofrito. Choose seafood, chicken & chorizo, mixed, or a full vegetarian pan. The giant pan does paella and so much more.
And every dish and every price is on this page — all 19 of them. No “prices on application”, no quote needed just to find out whether we are in your budget.
Full Menu & Pricing
Our Giant Pan Menus
All prices per person. Cooked live on-site in front of your guests.
Can't find exactly what you want? We build custom giant pan menus to suit your event — just get in touch.
What does a giant pan actually cost?
Food and cook team included. Minimum 50 guests, so the smallest booking is £612.50.
Example giant pan catering totals by guest count and menu tier
Menu tier
50 guests
80 guests
150 guests
Essential £12.25pp
£612.50
£980
£1,837.50
Classic £14.95pp
£747.50
£1,196
£2,242.50
Signature £16.75pp
£837.50
£1,340
£2,512.50
At 80 guests and above you get a second dish from the same tier free.Two pans, two dishes, same price per head — which is why 80 is the number most parties land on.
How do the catering formats compare on price?
Catering cost by format in Cornwall — starting price per head and how each is served
Starting prices per head, inclusive of VAT. Delivered prices shown for BBQ and hog roast; on-site cook-team packages are priced per event. Correct for 2026.
Severe allergies: Our kitchen handles nuts and gluten daily — for severe nut, peanut, hazelnut allergies or coeliac disease we cannot guarantee a trace-free environment. Please tell us at enquiry stage so we can advise.
Exceeded all expectations for our wedding. Fabulous quality and presentation. Our guests are still talking about the food.
Real events · not stock
Real giant pans, cooked live in Cornwall & Devon
Colourful paella and giant pans cooked on-site in front of your guests — vegetables, rice and slow-simmered sauces, the cooking itself part of the entertainment. Every shot from a real event.
“We had big pans from salt wind for our wedding and the food was AMAZING. Mark and his team could not have been more helpful throughout the whole process and were a dream to work with. Nothing was ever too much trouble and so many people have said how lovely the food was. I’d book them for another event in a heart beat!”
“Just returned from my wifes 50th birthday party and the caterers were superb. Salt Wind Catering provided top quality food and plenty of it the party was for 50 people and we had plenty. Special mention for the amazing coleslaw and chicken they were totally scrumptious! Will definitely use again and can highly recommend Salt Wind thanks for your great service!!”
Paul brocklehurst·50th Birthday
“Saltwind came up to sunny Devon for Jo’s 60th party. Everyone absolutely loved the Hog Roast. We had a party of 55 and we were still finishing off the food at 3am. Mark and the guys were great and worked so hard to keep everyone fed. The crackling was awesome! And we all loved the beef as well! Was everything we wanted and more ! Cheers to Saltwind!”
Roger Palfrey·Hog Roast — 60th, Devon
“Salt Wind Catering were a joy to work with - clear communication & excellent food. They catered for 100 people with different dietary requirements and were so professional. I would recommend to anyone.”
Miren Elphick·Corporate — 100 guests
“We used SaltWind to provide catering support for our father’s wake. The team were very easy to work with and the food was outstanding. It was delicious, fresh, well presented and drew much praise from all who attended. First class and highly recommended.”
Tamar Sage·Wake
“The catering for our wake was well received by our guests, all of them gave back good fed back on selection of sandwiches, cake and scones. Thumbs up all round. Pasted on your details to several people who enquired as to who do the food.”
Susan Rule·Wake
“Fantastic would definitely recommend my daughter her friends and parents love it people are lovely thank you so much for everything”
Elizabeth Jenkins
“Can't thank you enough for the spread you put on today will highly recommend and will pass on your details to everyone I know for any future events”
Ben Griffiths
“We had bbq catering for a surprise 40th birthday. The team arrived on time & had a prompt & professional set up. There was a great range of food & it was all delicious. Everyone waa raving about the food. Will definitely be recommending them to everyone & will use them in the future.”
Annilee Richards·BBQ — 40th Birthday
“I have used Salt Wind for a few work events now and can highly recommend. Always tasty, fresh and delivered on time and have received high praise from all attendees”
Marie Clemow·Corporate Events
“Absolute brilliant! Couldn’t recommend a better company. Outstanding food, communication was amazing all so polite and forward.”
Richard Mitchell
“Catered for our wedding and would highly recommend. Amazing service and really good pricing considering the amount and quality of the food. We catered for 40 guests and although we had less turn up there was still way more than 40 people's worth of food. Really good range, plenty of different things for everyone, and they were more than happy to cater for our gluten-free and vegan guests, who told us the food was great”
Michael Gray·Wedding
“I recently booked Salt Wind Catering for one of our corporate events and I can honestly say they exceeded expectations in every area. From the initial enquiry through to the event itself, the communication was excellent – clear, responsive, and professional, which made organising everything straightforward and stress-free. On the day, the team were punctual, well organised, and seamlessly fitted in with the flow of the event. The food was outstanding. High quality ingredients, cooked perfectly, and presented beautifully. It wasn’t just “good catering food” – it was genuinely impressive, and we received a constant stream of compliments from both our staff and guests throughout the event. What really stood out was the level of care and pride the team take in their work. They understand how important reliability and presentation are at corporate events, and they delivered both effortlessly. It made a big difference knowing we were in safe hands. I would confidently recommend Salt Wind Catering to any business or individual looking for exceptional food and a professional, dependable service. We’ll absolutely be using them again for future events. — Owner, The Cleanno Group”
The Cleanno Group·Corporate Event
“Saltwind were recommended to us and we used them today at a Masonic Installation. Communications throughout have been brilliant, they delivered on time. The selection was tremendous- and hot and everyone was impressed by the quality food. Thank you Saltwind- we will definitely use you again Mandie Dingle Kerenza Lodge 273”
Mandie Dingle·Masonic Event
“We used salt wind for my father’s funeral and found the company offered efficient service with great food . Would thoroughly recommend them. Nov 25”
Martin Tamblyn·Funeral
“Thank you so much for salt wind catering for doing my wedding hog roast food. It was delicious and had a lot of compliments of how lovely and tasty the food was and everyone kept going back for more and there was still loads left over. Will definitely use again and recommend them. Again Thank you for the lovely food❤️”
Laura Sophie Christophers·Wedding Hog Roast
“Salt Wind Catering provided the food for our Dad's Funeral Wake. Previously we had a buffet from them for Mum's 90th birthday. On both occasions the food was absolutely perfect. I will use this company again without hesitation , the way it arrived , all boxed and ready to go made it so easy to just take the lids off and start eating ! Thankyou for lovely food in a convenient way , it made both occasions very special.”
Kathy Hendra·Wake & Birthday
“We had Salt Wind Catering help us cater for 40 guests at our parents anniversary. We were really impressed with how good the food was. There was plenty of it and we had lots of people asking for the caterers details for future events. We will definitely use these caters for future events.”
Phil Harper·40-Guest Anniversary
“What can we say. We had a fantastic day for my Mums birthday on 24th August. We found Salt Wind online and liked the look of the their options compared with some others we saw. They were fantastic from start to finish. Mark answered our emails promptly which gave us a lot of confidence in their service. On the day they arrived right on time, and the buffet food and pasties were delicious, as well as being boxed in a great way for us to arrange. We would definitely use them again for any future event.”
Daniel Simpson·Birthday Party
“The fantastic finger buffet for 20 people. The choices and quality of the food was excellent. And all delivered freshly made / cooked and on time. Thanks Saltwind.”
Brett Spencer·Finger Buffet
“Absolutely brilliant service. Used Salt wind for a birthday party this summer. They arrived promptly, the food was wonderfully presented in boxes and the portions were big! All the dishes were delicious, it truly made the party go with a bang and saved me hours of cooking! Would absolute recommend them and I will certainly be using their services again in the future! Thank you!”
Sarah Johns·Birthday Party
“We had an amazing day and the food for the day Was delicious on the 26th of August for our 25th anniversary. It was all fresh and delicious all put out with everything done for me. Didn't have to worry about anything everybody enjoyed the food so much. Definitely will use you again if we have any other parties thank you so much even had to add 10 more potions 4 days before, which didn't inconvenient you were so helpful to us and I didn't have to worry about anything. Thank you so much again Pictures of the food and of the day below We had the £8.95 per portion and it was delicious”
Pat Eggleton·25th Anniversary
“Thank you so much for the buffet for my husbands 60th. Everyone commented on how great it was. It looked amazing and tasted fantastic.”
Philippa Holden·60th Birthday
“Salt Wind have just done a last minute buffet for me to cater for seven people. I asked for the antipasti plater and I can honestly say it was amazing. From the selection of meat that had been made into roses, and different cheese to the selection of crackers and bread. It was out of this world.”
Vicky North·Buffet — 7 guests
“We recently used Salt Wind Catering for our wedding, and they were absolutely fantastic from start to finish. They provided a delicious summer buffet that our guests are still talking about – everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavour. The team were professional, punctual, and easy to work with throughout the entire process. They delivered exactly as promised, arriving on time and ensuring everything ran smoothly. It was also really reassuring to know they were just a phone call away if we had any questions. Overall, we were really happy with the service and would recommend Salt Wind Catering to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality catering. Thank you for helping make our day so special! Ruth and Charlie”
Ruth Rigby·Wedding
“Salt wind have just done the catering for our wedding anniversary party and we were so impressed. The food was absolutely fantastic and just what we wanted. It all looked so amazing and was so fresh and delicious. The fruit platter was especially good and perfect for a warm summers day. Their organisation could not be faulted either. We would heartily recommend them and would definitely use them again.”
Susan Negus·Anniversary Party
“Well what can I say - exceeded all expectations. The food was fabulous quality and there was so much of it. The communication ahead of our wedding was great too. And everyone I met from Salt Wind were so pleasant and accommodating. I wholeheartedly recommend them for any type of event. Thank you to all you guys!”
Ewa Skinner·Wedding
“The food and service provided was absolutely fantastic. Arriving a a chef outfit, transporting food to the tables. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Thank you so much for doing this at quite short notice too, you certainly saved the day. Would definitely recommend and wil be rebooking for my husband's 60th next year and other events.”
Melinda King
“The service and food was faultless. Arriving in a chef uniform, carrying everything to the table. The food was beautifully packaged and presented and tasted lovely too. Thank you so much for being so helpful especially as it was quite last minute. Would definitely recommend.”
Melinda King·Event
“We had Salt Wind Catering for our wedding buffet on Saturday 21st June, the ease of ordering was brilliant and great communication throughout, the buffet was delivered and set up at our reception venue while we were in our ceremony so could not of been fresher. When we arrived at the reception we were absolutely blown away by the presentation and amount of lovely food which went down a treat. We would highly recommend this company, excellent service and value for money, thankyou from Simon & Carly”
Carly·Wedding Buffet — delivered
“We ordered the Children's Buffet Party Food through Salt Wind Catering for our daughter's 4th birthday party, and my husband and I were very impressed and pleased with their product and service--as were several parents at the party, who asked who we used! The food arrived on time, beautifully presented, fresh, and plentiful, with a lovely variety of food which is perfect for young children--pleasing even the pickiest eaters. The menu was customised for us, down to the sandwich ratios. I tend to be a "stress head" so using Salt Wind instead of attempting to do all the food myself, greatly reduced my stress and it was better than what I could have prepared anyhow (among other things, there'd be no way I could manage the hot options). Overall it was great value and I highly recommend.”
Anna Wasson·Children's Party — 4th Birthday
“So happy with our family get together today. I ordered our delicious cold buffet from Salt Wind Catering and I’m so glad I did. The food was delicious. Fresh and tasty. Great selection, friendly home delivery and so well packaged. Reasonably priced too. Will definitely be using again. Highly recommend this local company. 5*.”
Amanda Stevens·Cold Buffet — family gathering
“We booked Salt Wind at short notice for a party we had last week. Mark was very approachable, helpful and friendly on the phone and the man who delivered the food (Sam?) was also a credit to the company. The food was delivered on time and was really fresh and beautifully presented! The Vegetable Platter and the Fruit Platters were definitely show stoppers. Everything tasted delicious. Lots of our party guests commented on how lovely the food was and wanted your details (which we provided). If we ever have another event - we would definitely use Salt Wind again and we will be recommending them to all our friends. Thanks for all your help! Mary & Jimmy :)”
james o donoghue·Party
“Wow! What a wonderful spread provided by Salt Wind. My party guests were all impressed and everything was beautifully presented and tasty. Salt Wind were so helpful with dietary requirements and their customer service is excellent.”
st coxen·Party
“Absolutely amazing. Great selection and generous amounts. All fresh and beautifully presented. Everyone was very impressed. Will definitely use again in the future”
Hannah Parsonage
“Food was fantastic. Good selection. Arrived on time and they were easy to deal with. Ultimately, very happy.”
Furness Films
“They catered our work christmas party at short notice, the food was amazing, fresh and great variety. Cakes were sooo good everyone was very happy. Thanks guys.”
Suzannah Rawlings·Work Christmas Party
“5 * catering service. Fab food and lovely people. The grazing plater was amazing, all so fresh and well made. Highly recommend”
Shannon
“Thank you so much Salt Wind Catering. The buffet was gorgeous and loved all the homemade delights . Can't wait for you to cater for our wedding”
Vegetarian paella from £12.25pp up to seafood paella and lamb tagine at £16.75pp. There's something across every budget and dietary need.
Guests watch it being made
The sizzle, the steam, the smell drifting across the venue. A giant pan is part of the entertainment, not just the food.
Cornwall & Devon covered
Based in Redruth. Wedding venues, festival fields, garden parties, corporate away days — we travel to you.
Free quote the same day
No obligation. We'll cover dishes, add-ons, guest numbers, and all contingency options at quote stage.
Giant pan vs hog roast vs BBQ — which suits your event?
All three are live-cooked on site. Here's how to choose.
Paella and giant pan compared with hog roast and charcoal BBQ — who each format suits, guest range, dietary flexibility, theatre and starting price per head
The most common ones about our giant pan and paella catering.
Our Essential Menu (vegetarian & vegan dishes) starts from £12.25 per head. The Classic Menu with meat dishes is £14.95 per head. Our Signature Menu with premium ingredients like seafood paella and lamb tagine is £16.75 per head. All prices include our cook team, equipment, and disposable plates and cutlery.
Yes — "big pan" and "giant pan" catering are the same thing. We cook your chosen dish live in a large paella-style pan at your venue, serving 50+ guests from a single pan. Whether you call it a big pan, a giant pan or paella catering, it is the same live-cooking service from Salt Wind Catering.
Our big pan menu runs to 19 dishes across three tiers — paella (meat, seafood and mixed), Asian and Thai curries, Hungarian beef goulash, lamb tagine, Cornish fish chowder, and chicken, chorizo & prawn jambalaya. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are on every tier. Prices start from £12.25 per head.
Minimum 50 guests for big pan / giant pan catering. For groups of 80 or more, you can choose 2 dishes from the same tier at no extra cost.
We arrive and set up our giant pan cooking station at your venue. Each dish is cooked live in front of your guests — it makes a real spectacle. We are fully self-sufficient and bring all equipment. Disposable plates and cutlery are included.
For groups of 80 or more guests, you can choose 2 dishes from the same price tier at no extra cost. For smaller groups or mixed tiers, get in touch and we can put together a tailored quote.
Yes. Four of our five Essential dishes are both vegetarian and vegan. The Mushroom Stroganoff is vegetarian (contains cream). Gluten-free options are available — just let us know your requirements when booking.
We offer 19 dishes across three tiers. Highlights include Meat Paella, Asian Chicken Curry, Seafood Paella, Mixed Paella, Hungarian Beef Goulash, Lamb Tagine, Cornish Fish Chowder, and Chicken Chorizo & Prawn Jambalaya.
Yes. Our Signature Menu (from £16.75pp) is popular for weddings — dishes like Seafood Paella, Mixed Paella, and Lamb Tagine. We can add side salads, cheese boards, and desserts as extras.
Based in Redruth, we cover the whole of Cornwall and travel into Devon for larger events. Across Cornwall there is no travel charge and no minimum spend — standard pricing everywhere. Devon is quoted separately and the free-travel threshold depends on distance: travel is included on orders over £500 (food and service) for Plymouth and Tavistock, and over £1,500 for the rest of Devon. Below the threshold it is £1 per mile round-trip from Redruth, so you can work out the cost up front. Giant pan catering suits high-volume events — festival sites, village fetes, weddings and corporate events across Truro, Newquay, Falmouth and into Devon.
We need a roughly 3m × 6m flat, level space for our cook gazebo and pan station — on grass, hardstanding or in a marquee. We bring our own gas burners and run fully self-sufficiently, so no venue power is required (a 13-amp socket is handy if available, but never essential).
The pan cooks under our own gazebo, and because we run on gas rather than mains power we can set up under a marquee or in a barn with good ventilation. Cornish weather is no problem — just let us know the venue and we will confirm the setup.
A single 90cm pan serves around 60 portions. For larger numbers we run multiple pans and staggered service, so we comfortably cater anywhere from 50 to 500+ guests from live cooking on the day — which is also why groups of 80 or more get a second dish from the same tier at no extra cost: a second pan is on site anyway.
Salt Wind Catering provides giant pan and paella catering across all of Cornwall and Devon. We cook live at your venue — the giant pan is a spectacular centrepiece for outdoor events. Our setup is fully self-contained with gas burners and all equipment. We cater at fields, beaches, farms, gardens, marquees, and festival sites.
Call Salt Wind Catering on 01209 206255 or email info@saltwind.catering with your event date, guest count, and preferred dishes. Giant pan catering requires a minimum of 50 guests. A 30% deposit secures your date. We recommend booking 2–4 weeks in advance.
Yes. Salt Wind Catering offers vegetable paella, vegan curries, and plant-based giant pan options alongside our standard menu. We cater for gluten-free, dairy-free, and all allergy requirements. Let us know your guests' dietary needs when booking and we'll tailor the menu.
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Giant Pan Catering Across Cornwall & Devon
Giant pan and paella catering across Cornwall and Devon
