Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Barton on Sea
Planning paella catering in Barton on Sea? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Naming days and family parties
Book paella catering in Barton on Sea
How our paella catering works in Barton on Sea
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 Barton on Sea. On the menu are vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for staff parties and work lunches and retirement celebrations.
There may be a hall or club near Barton on Sea if your garden is small; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Confirm allergies by email
- Have seats for most of your guests
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in Barton on Sea until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:05pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Organising for someone else?
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Paella catering around Barton on Sea
Barton on Sea is in Hampshire. For paella catering in Barton on Sea, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in 683 places in Hampshire. We cook right across the region, from Barton on Sea to Southampton (about 17 miles away).
For guests coming by train, New Milton station is about 1 mile away. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Parish Church of St Magdalene, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Barton on Sea is within about 7 miles of the New Forest National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Barton on Sea is within about 6 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in BH25, we can bring paella catering to you. Local streets include Barton Drive, Heathy Close and Barton Way; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include New Milton (1 mile north), Ashley (2 miles north-east) and Downton (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Totton (14 miles north-east), Lymington (5 miles east), Hythe (14 miles north-east), Ringwood (9 miles north-west), Dibden Purlieu (13 miles north-east) and Marchwood (14 miles north-east).
A little further out are Highcliffe Castle (2.2 miles west) and Lymington New Forest Hospital (5.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Milford on Sea LNR.
- Local schools include The Arnewood School (0.6 miles north) and The Arnewood School (0.6 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The George Centre pub (less than half a mile north)
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Barton on Sea questions
Which station should guests use for Barton on Sea?
New Milton station, about 1 mile north of the centre.
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Places near Barton on Sea
More for events in Barton on Sea
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Barton on Sea
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
DIY paella versus live catering
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why us?
- A quote that spells everything out
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella 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