Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Crofton, Hampshire
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Crofton.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Community events and fairs
Paella catering near Crofton
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How long we are needed on site
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Paella catering in Crofton, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s exactly what we bring to your event in Crofton. For company summer parties and retirement and leaving parties, we can cook seafood paella, mixed paella and vegan paella and more.
In a hamlet or village like Crofton, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Places near Crofton
More for events in Crofton
Who books paella catering in Crofton?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Crofton, people book us for occasions like:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Milestone birthday parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Crofton School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- How long the team stays
- Whether VAT is included
- What happens if it rains
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Crofton: venues, travel and local tips
Crofton is about 1 mile east of Stubbington, in Hampshire. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Crofton. Crofton is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Crofton to Southampton (about 11 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Peel Common Mission Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Fareham station, about 2.1 miles north. The coast is within about 6 miles of Crofton, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in PO14 and PO13, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Mark's Road, Gosport Road and Newgate Lane. Other places close to Crofton for paella catering include Peel Common (1 mile east), Rowner (1 mile east), Bridgemary (1 mile east), Lee-on-the-Solent (1 mile south) and Fareham (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Havant (10 miles east), Eastleigh (12 miles north-west), Horndean (10 miles north-east), Totton (15 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (14 miles north-west) and Hedge End (8 miles north-west).
A little further out are Gosport War Memorial Hospital (3 miles south-east) and Carron Row Farm Museum (3 miles north-west). Not far away are Portsdown Hill and West of the River Alver.
- Nearby schools include Baycroft School (within half a mile west) and Peel Common Infant School and Nursery Unit (0.5 miles east)
Is live paella right for your event?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why choose Love Paella in Crofton
- Catering across Hampshire, including Crofton
- Drinks service on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Working with your venue
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Crofton questions
What’s the nearest station to Crofton for guests?
Fareham station, about 2.1 miles north of the centre.
We’re having a ceremony at Peel Common Mission Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
How many different paellas?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
How much does paella catering cost in Crofton?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Crofton stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Crofton? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Ensure each pan is labelled
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
- 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