Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Blackhill, Hampshire
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Blackhill.
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering for Blackhill events
Paella catering around Blackhill
Blackhill is about 4 miles north-west of Totton, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Blackhill will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Blackhill is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 8 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Landford Manor (2.7 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Wellow School, can book us as a food stall. Blackhill is within about 7 miles of the New Forest National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cook at events all over SO51 and the streets around it. Nearby, we also cater events in East Wellow (1 mile north-east), Canada (1 mile west), West Wellow (1 mile north-west), Wigley (2 miles south-east) and Newbridge (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Winchester (13 miles north-east), Eastleigh (10 miles east), Totton (4 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles east), Hedge End (12 miles east) and Lymington (14 miles south).
A little further out are Tatchbury Mount Hospital (2.9 miles south-east) and King Johns House (3.7 miles north-east). Not far away are Copythorne Common.
- Schools near Blackhill include Embley (2.1 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find Rockingham Arms (0.8 miles west)
Paella catering in Blackhill, cooked live
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. We are frequently asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and festivals, fairs and school events, with vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
In a rural place like Blackhill, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Blackhill questions
What’s the nearest station to Blackhill for guests?
Romsey station, about 4 miles north-east of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Blackhill?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
How much does paella catering cost in Blackhill?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Live paella or other catering?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
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 will follow them.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is usually the most photographed pan.
Nearby places to Blackhill
What else we do in Blackhill
What paella catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The address or venue name
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and rough timings
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Blackhill
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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.
How it works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. In Blackhill, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Put allergy details in writing
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us what else is being served
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
- 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