Hampshire · England
Corporate paella catering in Downton, Hampshire
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: paella catering for office lunches, staff parties, team days and client events in Downton and the surrounding area.
- Product launches and open days
- Client hospitality
- Office lunches and away days
Book corporate paella catering in Downton
Business events near Downton
Downton is about 3 miles west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Whether your work event is in the middle of Downton or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Downton is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 16 miles away.
For staff and clients coming by train, New Milton station is about 2 miles away. With the New Forest National Park within about 6 miles, rural team days are easy to arrange. The coast is within about 4 miles, so a seafood pan goes down well at summer events.
Corporate paella catering in SO41 is planned around your venue. Local streets include Hordle Lane and Shorefield Road; a work event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Downton for corporate paella catering include Leagreen (1 mile east), Hordle (1 mile north), Ashley (2 miles north-west), Barton on Sea (2 miles west) and New Milton (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Totton (13 miles north), Lymington (3 miles east), Hythe (13 miles north-east), Ringwood (10 miles north-west), Dibden Purlieu (12 miles north-east) and Marchwood (13 miles north-east).
A little further out are Lymington New Forest Hospital (3.7 miles north-east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (2.9 miles north-west). The countryside around Downton includes Milford on Sea LNR.
- Nearby schools include The Arnewood School (2.1 miles west)
Corporate paella catering for your work event in Downton
Corporate events need food that feeds a crowd quickly, suits every diet and doesn’t stop people talking. Live paella does all three. Popular choices include vegan and vegetarian paella, canapé tapas and paella lunches, and we’re regularly asked to cater open days and launches and christmas and end-of-year parties.
An away day near Downton is a good fit for live paella: no kitchen needed, just level ground and access. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Think about shade and seating
- Have water and soft drinks available
- Tell us how long the food break is
- Ask staff about diets in advance
The cooking area stays tidy, and clear it away afterwards.
Bowl food for standing events.
Also near Downton
What else we do in Downton
How the day works
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. For a Christmas party in Downton, it is dark by about 4:05pm, so the cooking and serving areas need good lighting. A summer party has daylight until about 9:25pm.
- We start with your date, venue, headcount, timings and diets.
- We confirm a menu and a quote, with any paperwork your venue needs.
- We agree access, parking and set-up times with you or the venue.
- The paella cooks in front of your team and is served at the agreed time.
- Afterwards, our area is cleared and left clean.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What’s in the pans
Bowl food
Paella in bowls for standing receptions and networking events.
Canapé tapas
Bite-sized tapas carried round by staff.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Questions from Downton
Do you come out to small places like Downton?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you work in winter?
We can, with a suitable covered cooking area. A steaming pan on a cold evening goes down well.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Canapé tapas
- Desserts
- Bowl food
- Paella lunches
- Drinks service
- Vegan & vegetarian pans
Why choose live paella in Downton?
Sandwich platters are easy but forgettable. Live paella is an event in itself. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What you get with us
- Catering across Hampshire, including Downton
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Occasions we cook for in Downton
People remember it.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Training days and conferences
- Team-building days
- Team lunches
- Customer events
Historic houses near Downton include Highcliffe Castle (4.2 miles west). Estates and historic houses can make memorable settings for client events, but they usually set strict rules for caterers.
What to look for in a quote
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How bad weather is handled
- Allergen information for each dish
- Staff numbers and hours
- 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