Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Blashford
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Blashford and across Hampshire.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Community events and fairs
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering in Blashford
How it works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Around midsummer it stays light in Blashford 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 is dark by about 4:05pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Paella catering for your event in Blashford
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. On the menu are black rice, paella Valenciana and vegan paella, and we are regularly asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and birthday celebrations.
Somewhere like Blashford, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Where we can cook in Blashford
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Other catering in Blashford
Common questions in Blashford
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Blashford too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Which paella is most popular?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Live paella in Blashford: local details
Blashford is in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Blashford will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. Blashford is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Blashford to Southampton (17 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Avon Tyrrell House (4.7 miles south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary and All Saints, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The New Forest National Park is within about 5 miles of Blashford, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cover events in every part of the BH24 postcode area and the streets around it. Your event could be at a home on Snails Lane, Ivy Lane and Woolmer Lane or the roads around them. For events just outside Blashford, we cover Ellingham (1 mile north-west), Rockford (1 mile north-east), Poulner (1 mile south-east), Highwood (1 mile east) and Ringwood (1 mile south). Larger places within reach include Totton (13 miles east), Lymington (13 miles south-east), New Milton (9 miles south-east), Barton on Sea (10 miles south-east), Marchwood (15 miles east) and Ashley (9 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find St Leonard's Hospital (4.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Schools near Blashford include Ringwood School Academy (1 mile south)
- Local pubs include Alice Lisle Inn (0.7 miles north-east)
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
How we price paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- Timings and hours
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The courses you’d like
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Blashford, and we will put together a menu and price.
Why choose paella catering in Blashford?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Blashford book us for occasions like:
- Company summer parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Birthday celebrations
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Poulner Junior School, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- The deposit and payment dates
- If the price includes VAT
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the price includes, item by item
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
- 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