Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Catherington, Hampshire
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Catherington and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Naming days and family parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering near Catherington
How the day works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Evenings in Catherington stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Read more
About our paella catering in Catherington
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. We are frequently asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and community events and fairs, serving seafood paella, black rice and paella Valenciana.
For a rural spot like Catherington, the countryside is part of the appeal: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Confirm allergies by email
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Other catering in Catherington
Perfect for your event in Catherington
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Company summer parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rowlands Castle station, about 3.5 miles south-east.
Questions to ask before booking
- Travel and parking costs
- The deadline for final numbers
- The venue requirements
- If the price includes VAT
Catherington questions
How far is Catherington from London?
About 56 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Which station should guests use for Catherington?
The closest is Rowlands Castle station, roughly 3.5 miles away.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Can we choose the seafood?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Does paella work for big events?
It’s ideal. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
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.
Paella catering around Catherington
Catherington is about 2 miles north of Horndean, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Catherington or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Catherington is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Catherington to Southampton (about 17 miles away).
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Catherington Church of England Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Catherington is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over PO8 and the streets around it. From Glamorgan Road, Wrexham Grove and White Dirt Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Clanfield (1 mile north), Lovedean (2 miles south-west), Horndean (2 miles south), Wecock Farm (2 miles south-west) and Anmore (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Gosport (11 miles south-west), Havant (5 miles south), Eastleigh (15 miles west), Fareham (10 miles south-west), Alton (15 miles north) and Hedge End (13 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Havant War Memorial Hospital (5.3 miles south) and Clanfield Earthwork (1.7 miles north-east). Open spaces near Catherington include Windmill Hill.
- Local schools include Horndean Technology College (1.2 miles south)
Why choose live paella in Catherington?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Catering across Hampshire, including Catherington
- A quote that spells everything out
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Timings and hours
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many courses
- The paellas you choose
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- The date and time of the event
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Roughly how many adults and children
- What the venue already provides
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can use our quote form.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- 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