Southampton · England
Paella Catering for Bassett events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Bassett.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
Live paella catering in Bassett
Paella catering in Bassett, made fresh on the day
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. For christenings and family gatherings and anniversary celebrations, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and vegetable paella and more.
There may be a hall or club near Bassett if your garden is small; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Bassett (SO16, SO17, SO15)
- County
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Live paella or other catering?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Events in Bassett and across Southampton
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
Live paella in Bassett: local details
Bassett is about 2 miles north-west of Southampton, in Southampton. For paella catering in Bassett, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cater in 40 places across Southampton.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Southampton Common? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Cantell School, can book us as a food stall. Bassett is within about 3 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
This part of Southampton takes in SO16, SO17 and SO15, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Burgess Road, Pointout Road and Chetwynd Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Highfield (1 mile south-east), Lordswood (1 mile west), Chilworth (1 mile north), Coxford (1 mile west) and Shirley (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Thornhill (4 miles south-east), Chartwell Green (3 miles east), Harefield (3 miles south-east), Itchen (3 miles south-east), Sholing (4 miles south-east) and Woolston (4 miles south-east).
A little further out are Netley Castle (4.9 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (2.1 miles south). Open spaces near Bassett include Flexford Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Hollybrook Infant School (0.6 miles south-west) and Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton (1.3 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bellemoor pub (0.9 miles south)
Other catering in Bassett
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Bassett until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get 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 put together a menu and price.
Read more
FAQs for Bassett
Which station should guests use for Bassett?
The closest is Swaythling station, roughly 1.5 miles away.
Can you cook near the sea around Bassett?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you cover Bassett?
We do. Bassett is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
When do you arrive?
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.
Is the paella gluten-free?
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 does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Events we cater in Bassett
There is no kitchen needed, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Bassett, people book us for occasions like:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Leaving dos and retirements
Historic houses near Bassett include South Stoneham House (1.5 miles east) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (2.8 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Questions to ask before you book
- The deadline for final numbers
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How each diet is kept separate
- Exactly what’s included in the price
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Mention any other courses or food
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
- 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