Southampton · England
Festival & event paella in Itchen, Southampton
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Itchen.
- School and charity events
- Music and food festivals
- Community events and open days
Festival paella catering in Itchen
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Evening events in Itchen have light until about 9:25pm at midsummer; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- Pans cook in full view and we serve throughout the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
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Festival paella catering in Itchen, cooked live
Few street foods pull a crowd like a huge paella pan. People follow the smell, and service from the pan is fast. Whether it is music and food festivals and christmas and farmers’ markets, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and churros for your guests.
Village fêtes and summer fairs around Itchen are made for a paella stall. Tell us about the pitch, ground and access. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Area
- Itchen (SO19, SO14)
- County
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Itchen
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Vehicle access before and after the event
- A level pitch on firm ground
- Your arrangements for power, water and waste
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Itchen
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Churros
Running an event in Itchen
Itchen is about 2 miles south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. From the centre of Itchen to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Itchen is one of 40 towns and villages in Southampton where we cook.
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Jesus Chapel - St Mary Extra, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. School fairs, for a school like Ludlow Junior School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Within about 7 miles is the New Forest National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules. With the sea within about 2 miles, we plan shelter from the wind for coastal events, and seafood paella sells well by the sea.
Wherever your event is in SO19 and SO14, we can bring festival paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Sea Road, Oak Road and West Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Itchen is on the A3025, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Itchen, we cover Peartree Green (1 mile north-west), Northam (1 mile north-west), Sholing (1 mile east), Bitterne (1 mile north-east) and St Mary's (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Shirley (3 miles north-west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles north-west), Coxford (4 miles north-west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west). Being one of Southampton’s larger places, Itchen has lots of places to hold an event.
Nearby you’ll also find Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.9 miles north) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.6 miles west). The countryside around Itchen includes Netley Common.
- Nearby schools include Woolston School (less than half a mile south) and Oasis Academy Sholing (0.6 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Engineers Arms (1 mile north-west)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A paella stall can have a vegan pan alongside the rest. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Drinks service on request
- A clear, itemised quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Put all trader information in one pack
- Book crew catering in advance
- Ask for allergen information at each stall
- Provide seating near the food
Allergen details are available at the stall, and each pan is labelled.
Bowls and forks for eating on the go.
A closer look at the menu
Vegan paella
Vegans get a hot, filling dish.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Popular with families.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Why choose festival paella catering in Itchen?
It adds theatre to a food line-up.
In Itchen and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Sports clubs and race days
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Agricultural and county shows
- Festivals
For visitors coming by rail, Itchen has its own station, Woolston station.
What to look for in a quote
- When payment is due
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
- Travel and parking costs
Nearby places to Itchen
Other catering in Itchen
Itchen questions
Can you cook in Houndwell Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How far is Itchen from London?
Roughly 69 miles from the centre of London.
How many paellas should we have?
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.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Southampton included. Find your area.
How soon do we need to book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
What documents can you send?
Tell us what the event needs and we’ll send it with our application.
What affects the price in Itchen
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
- Whether you need crockery
- The number of people
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Where the event is
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
- 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