Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Cole Henley events
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Cole Henley. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Cole Henley
How our paella catering works in Cole Henley
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, mixed paella and vegan paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater wedding breakfasts and evening food and company summer parties.
In a hamlet or village like Cole Henley, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
For event organisers in Cole Henley
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
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’ll follow them.
Step by step
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Around midsummer it stays light in Cole Henley until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, 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.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
Places near Cole Henley
Other catering in Cole Henley
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Cole Henley: venues, travel and local tips
Cole Henley is about 7 miles north-east of Andover, in Hampshire. Events in Cole Henley are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire. Our events stretch from Cole Henley to Reading (20 miles away).
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Testbourne Community School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Here we cover the RG28 postcode area. If your venue is just outside Cole Henley, we also cover Wells-in-the-Field (2 miles south), Freefolk (2 miles south-east), Whitchurch (2 miles south), Wadwick (3 miles north-west) and St Mary Bourne (3 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (10 miles east), Winchester (14 miles south), Andover (7 miles south-west), Tadley (10 miles north-east), Hyde (13 miles south) and Popley (11 miles east).
Open spaces near Cole Henley include Ladle Hill.
Where we can cook in Cole Henley
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Why choose live paella in Cole Henley?
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. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Cole Henley
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Drinks service on request
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Cole Henley questions
Do you come out to small places like Cole Henley?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Cole Henley close to London?
Roughly 56 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Do you bring everything you need?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Mention any other courses or food
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Have seats for most of your guests
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Who books paella catering in Cole Henley?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Cole Henley and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Garden get-togethers
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Milestone birthday parties
For guests coming by train, Whitchurch (Hampshire) station is about 1.4 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- The venue requirements
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether VAT is included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
What affects the price in Cole Henley
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Your choice of paellas
- Timings and hours
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
- Expected numbers
- The address or venue name
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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