Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Alverstoke
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Alverstoke: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
Planning an event in Alverstoke?
Paella catering in Alverstoke, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is what we bring to events in Alverstoke. For staff parties and work lunches and summer garden parties, we’ll put together a menu of paella Valenciana, vegan paella and mixed paella and more.
In a hamlet or village like Alverstoke, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
Alverstoke: venues, travel and local tips
Alverstoke is about 2 miles south of Gosport, in Hampshire. For paella catering in Alverstoke, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Alverstoke is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 14 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Little Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Alverstoke Community Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Alverstoke is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cater events across PO12 and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as The Lane, Fort Road and Church Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Clayhall (1 mile east), Haslar (1 mile east), Privett (1 mile north-west), Portsmouth Point (2 miles north-east) and Portsea (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Havant (9 miles north-east), Fareham (5 miles north), Horndean (11 miles north-east), Hedge End (12 miles north-west), Waterlooville (9 miles north-east) and Purbrook (8 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Southsea (2.5 miles east) and Tricorn Centre (3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Alverstoke include West of the River Alver.
- Local schools include Bay House School (0.8 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include Village Home pub (under half a mile north)
For event organisers in Alverstoke
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’ll follow them.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
What affects the price in Alverstoke
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
- The length of service
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- The date and time of the event
Planning paella catering in Alverstoke? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Planning an evening event in Alverstoke? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Also in Alverstoke
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us how many children are coming
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Who books paella catering in Alverstoke?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Alverstoke and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Portsmouth Harbour station, about 2.1 miles north-east.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
- The wet-weather plan
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Alverstoke
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A quote that spells everything out
- We cover Alverstoke and the whole of Hampshire
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Alverstoke: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Alverstoke?
Portsmouth Harbour station, about 2.1 miles north-east of the centre.
Can you cook near the sea around Alverstoke?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
What does paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
- 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