Isle of Wight · England
Festival & event paella in Rookley, Isle of Wight
Love Paella cooks paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events across Rookley and the Isle of Wight, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- County and country shows
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Food and music festivals
Live festival paella catering in Rookley
Festival paella catering in Rookley, cooked live
Few street foods pull a crowd like a huge paella pan. People follow the smell, and service from the pan is fast. Typical bookings include food and music festivals and charity and school events, serving seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and giant-pan paella.
Near Rookley, events may be far from shops and cafés, so a paella stall is a welcome sight. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated.
- Where
- Rookley (PO38)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose festival paella catering in Rookley?
It feeds crew and volunteers well on a long day.
Whatever you are celebrating in Rookley, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Community events and open days
- Food and music festivals
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
School fairs, for a school like Chillerton and Rookley Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- What happens if it rains
Places near Rookley
More for events in Rookley
Common questions in Rookley
What’s the nearest station to Rookley for guests?
Shanklin station, about 4.7 miles east of the centre.
Do you trade at school fairs around Rookley?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Tell us the date and pitch details.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How quickly can you serve?
Big batches and service from the pan keep things moving.
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How many guests are eating
- Travel, parking and access
- How many courses
- How long we’re needed on site
Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Schedule crew meals
- Check allergen info is on display
- Plan seating near the food area
- Ask about peak-time capacity
Our pitch is kept tidy and safe throughout the day.
Bowls and forks for eating on the go.
Rookley events: pitches and permissions
Rookley is about 3 miles south of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Rookley. Rookley is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 19 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Shanklin station is about 4.7 miles away. Running a fête for a church like St. Olave's Church? A paella pan draws people in. With the sea within about 6 miles, we plan shelter from the wind for coastal events.
Anywhere in PO38, we can bring festival paella catering to you. From Manor Crescent, Niton Road and Main Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater events in Rookley Green (1 mile south), Merstone (1 mile north-east), Blackwater (1 mile north), Godshill (2 miles south-east) and Sandford (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (3 miles north), Ryde (7 miles north-east), Cowes (7 miles north), Sandown (5 miles east), Shanklin (5 miles east) and Ventnor (5 miles south-east). Some remote venues need extra planning, so ask early about your event.
Nearby you’ll also find Carisbrooke Castle (2.7 miles north-west) and Whitecroft Hospital (1.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Stenbury Down and Alverstone Mead.
- Nearby, you’ll find Chequers Inn (0.7 miles south)
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Step by step
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Evening events in Rookley have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Tell us about the event and pitch.
- We send our menu, needs and paperwork.
- We set up on time.
- We cook in full view and serve all event.
- We pack down and tidy the pitch.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. A giant pan cooking in view sells itself. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why book with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover Rookley and the whole of the Isle of Wight
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan, popular with families.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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.
- 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