Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Bailey's Hard events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Bailey's Hard. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Christenings and family gatherings
Book paella catering in Bailey's Hard
What paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many courses
- Parking and unloading
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Paella catering for your event in Bailey's Hard
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll recommend what fits your event. Whether it’s big birthdays and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we can cook vegan paella, vegetable paella and mixed paella and more.
Somewhere like Bailey's Hard, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Catering an event in Bailey's Hard
Bailey's Hard is about 4 miles south-west of Hythe, in Hampshire. From the centre of Bailey's Hard to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Bailey's Hard is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Bailey's Hard to Southampton (8 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Beaulieu Road station is about 4.2 miles away. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of the Blessed Virgin and Child, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The New Forest National Park is within about a mile of Bailey's Hard, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO42. If your venue is just outside Bailey's Hard, we also cover The Hummicks (1 mile north-east), Beaulieu (1 mile north-west), East Boldre (1 mile west), Furzey Lodge (2 miles west) and Dibden Purlieu (3 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (13 miles east), Eastleigh (12 miles north), Fareham (11 miles east), Totton (8 miles north), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north) and Hedge End (9 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Beaulieu Abbey And Display Of Monastic Life (1.1 miles north-west) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (5.4 miles south-west). Not far away are Boldre Foreshore.
- Pubs nearby include The Montagu Arms (0.7 miles north-west)
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Give us separate numbers for children
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we normally call guests over.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Organising for someone else?
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Where we can cook in Bailey's Hard
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
FAQs for Bailey's Hard
What’s the nearest station to Bailey's Hard for guests?
Beaulieu Road station, about 4.2 miles north-west of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Bailey's Hard?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
What areas do you cover?
We cover London and the South East, including Hampshire. Find your area.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Evenings in Bailey's Hard stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or SO42 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Why choose paella catering in Bailey's Hard?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Birthday celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Leaving dos and retirements
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Beaulieu Village Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before you book
- A clear list of what’s included
- How each diet is kept separate
- When final numbers are due
- When payment is due
Towns and villages near Bailey's Hard
Also in Bailey's Hard
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why us?
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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