Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Dean
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Dean: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Book paella catering in Dean
Before you choose a spot
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Paella catering for your event in Dean
There’s something generous about paella: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. For christenings and family gatherings and retirement celebrations, we will put together a menu of black rice, vegan paella and paella Valenciana and more.
For a rural spot like Dean, the countryside is part of the appeal: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Also in Dean
Live paella or other catering?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Dean
- Fast service from the pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
Live paella in Dean: local details
Dean is about 6 miles north-east of Hedge End, in Hampshire. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Dean and nearby villages. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 9 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Botley station is about 4.6 miles away.
For paella catering in SO32, we plan around your venue and timings. That could mean an event in a garden on Dean Lane, Little Ashton Lane and Limekiln Lane. If your venue is just outside Dean, we also cover The Hangers (1 mile east), Upper Swanmore (2 miles south-east), Swanmore (2 miles south), Hill Grove (2 miles south-east) and Droxford (3 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (8 miles north-west), Gosport (12 miles south), Havant (12 miles south-east), Eastleigh (6 miles west), Fareham (8 miles south) and Horndean (9 miles south-east).
A little further out are Bishop's Waltham Museum (1.4 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Bishops Waltham Branch LNR and Beacon Hill.
- Nearby schools include Swanmore College of Technology (2.1 miles south)
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What affects the price in Dean
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How many courses
- How many staff you need
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Expected numbers
- What the venue already provides
- The date and rough timings
Planning paella catering in Dean? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Dean until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Common questions in Dean
Which station should guests use for Dean?
Botley station, about 4.6 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you come to Dean?
We do. We cook at events in Dean and across Hampshire. Send us your date to check availability.
How many different paellas?
Normally two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, Hampshire included. Find your area.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Occasions we cook for in Dean
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Naming days and family parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Milestone birthday parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Bishops Waltham Infant School, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether travel is included
- The deposit and payment dates
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
- 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