Isle of Wight · England
Festival Paella Catering for Nettlecombe events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Nettlecombe. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Race days and sports events
- Village fêtes
Festival paella catering in Nettlecombe
Nettlecombe events: pitches and permissions
Nettlecombe is about 7 miles south of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. For an event in Nettlecombe, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover 125 places in the Isle of Wight, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 23 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Shanklin station is about 4.1 miles away. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Water Hydrant Opposite Parish Church, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. The coast is within about 3 miles of Nettlecombe, so for seaside events we plan a sheltered pitch, and seafood paella sells well by the sea.
This part of the Isle of Wight takes in PO38, so your event can be anywhere in it. Other places close to Nettlecombe for festival paella catering include Southford (1 mile north-west), Bierley (1 mile west), Wroxall (2 miles north-east), Godshill (2 miles north) and Sandford (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Newport (7 miles north), Ryde (9 miles north-east), Cowes (11 miles north), Sandown (6 miles north-east), Shanklin (4 miles north-east) and East Cowes (11 miles north). Some remote venues need extra planning, so contact us in good time.
Nearby you will also find Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (4.1 miles north-east) and South Wight (2.6 miles east). Not far away are Stenbury Down.
- Pubs nearby include The White Horse Inn (under half a mile south-west)
Festival paella catering in Nettlecombe, cooked live
The cooking is part of the show. People stop, watch and come back to eat. Whether it is farmers’ and Christmas markets and village fêtes, we will put together a menu of vegan paella, seafood paella and giant-pan paella and more.
Rural events near Nettlecombe can be a long way from food outlets, so a hot-food stall is a big help. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Nettlecombe (PO38)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
For event organisers in Nettlecombe
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
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.
What festival paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- The address or venue name
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Nettlecombe questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Nettlecombe?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
What documents can you send?
Send your requirements and we’ll include them with our application.
Can you feed our volunteers?
Yes, at set times to suit your schedule. Send us numbers and times.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Paella compared with other options
For crew catering, sandwiches are easy but uninspiring. A hot paella keeps crew going. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why Nettlecombe hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. At midsummer, events in Nettlecombe stay light until about 9:20pm, which helps evening trading. Winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We arrive at the agreed time to set up the pitch.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What else we do in Nettlecombe
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Events we cater in Nettlecombe
It covers several diets with one trader, which saves pitches.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Nettlecombe book us for events such as:
- Open days
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Race days and sports events
School fairs, for a school like The Island Free School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
What your quote should include
- A clear list of what’s included
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deadline for final numbers
- How long the team stays
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Vehicle access to the pitch at set-up and break-down
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
- Your trader pack and site rules
For somewhere as remote as Nettlecombe, early notice helps us plan the trip.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Churros
- Vegan paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Giant paella pans
What’s in the pans
Giant paella pans
Huge pans of golden rice, cooking in full view.
Vegan paella
Vegan visitors get a real meal.
- 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