Southampton · England
Live paella catering in Chilworth Old Village, Southampton
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Chilworth Old Village: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Company summer parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden get-togethers
Book paella catering in Chilworth Old Village
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is usually the most photographed pan.
Paella catering for your event in Chilworth Old Village
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include weddings and evening receptions and engagement and anniversary parties, serving mixed paella, black rice and paella Valenciana.
In a rural place like Chilworth Old Village, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- Chilworth Old Village (SO16)
- County
- Southampton
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella or other catering?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Events in Chilworth Old Village and across Southampton
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Why choose paella catering in Chilworth Old Village?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Office lunches and staff parties
Nearby historic houses include South Stoneham House (2.8 miles south-east) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (4.7 miles south). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How bad weather is handled
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Mention any other courses or food
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Nearby places to Chilworth Old Village
More for events in Chilworth Old Village
Catering an event in Chilworth Old Village
Chilworth Old Village is about 2 miles south-west of Chandler's Ford, in Southampton. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Chilworth Old Village and the surrounding area. Chilworth Old Village is one of 40 towns and villages in Southampton we cover.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Denys, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chandlers Ford station, about 2 miles north-east. The coast is within about 5 miles of Chilworth Old Village, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in SO16, we can cook for your guests. Close by, we cover events in Chilworth (1 mile south-east), North Baddesley (1 mile north-west), Knightwood (2 miles north-east), Lordswood (2 miles south) and Bassett (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Southampton (4 miles south), Shirley (3 miles south), Regents Park (3 miles south), Townhill Park (4 miles south-east), Midanbury (4 miles south-east) and Thornhill (5 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Eastleigh Museum (2.9 miles east) and Princess Anne Hospital (2.3 miles south). Not far away are Emer Bog and Baddesley Common.
- Schools near Chilworth Old Village include Cantell School (2 miles south-east)
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Evenings in Chilworth Old Village stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Your questions about paella catering in Chilworth Old Village
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Denys?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you cook near the sea around Chilworth Old Village?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Where we can cook in Chilworth Old Village
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- 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