Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Cadnam
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Cadnam. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Community events and fairs
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering for Cadnam events
How our paella catering works in Cadnam
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We will recommend what fits your event. We are frequently asked to cater community events and fairs and leaving dos and retirements, with vegetable paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella.
In a hamlet or village like Cadnam, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
The process
Here’s how the day typically runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Planning an evening event in Cadnam? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- 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 it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planning live paella in Cadnam
Cadnam is about 3 miles west of Totton, in Hampshire. Across the SO40 area, we can bring the pans to you. Cadnam is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 8 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Ashurst New Forest station is about 3.1 miles away. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Cadnam is within about 4 miles of the New Forest National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in SO40, we plan around your venue and your guests. From Old Lyndhurst Road, White Hart Lane and Southampton Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Close by, we cover events in Wittensford (1 mile west), Bartley (1 mile south-east), Copythorne (1 mile north-east), Newbridge (1 mile north) and Winsor (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (15 miles north-east), Eastleigh (11 miles east), Totton (3 miles east), Chandler's Ford (9 miles north-east), Hedge End (12 miles east) and Lymington (11 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Tatchbury Mount Hospital (2.2 miles east) and National Dairy Museum (3.6 miles south-east). The countryside around Cadnam includes Copythorne Common.
- Pubs nearby include The White Hart pub (under half a mile west)
Is live paella right for your event?
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why Cadnam hosts choose us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Cadnam questions
Which station should guests use for Cadnam?
The closest is Ashurst New Forest station, roughly 3.1 miles away.
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Which paellas suit our guests?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
It’s ideal. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Nearby places to Cadnam
Other catering in Cadnam
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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 at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Travel, parking and access
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- The venue or postcode
- What the venue already provides
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Send allergies to us in writing
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Events we cater in Cadnam
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Cadnam, people book us for occasions like:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Company summer parties
Historic houses near Cadnam include Landford Manor (4.6 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking 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