Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Denvilles, Hampshire
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Denvilles.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
- Milestone birthday parties
Planning an event in Denvilles?
How our paella catering works in Denvilles
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. For family celebrations and christenings and garden get-togethers, we can cook chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and black rice and more.
In a smaller place like Denvilles, a garden party is often the simplest option: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Let us know about access to the house. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Denvilles questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
We’re having a ceremony at St Thomas à Becket Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is it really cooked live?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
How we price paella catering
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- The address or venue name
- Which courses you have in mind
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests usually gather round to watch while it cooks. In Denvilles, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Denvilles? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Read more
Occasions we cook for in Denvilles
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Big birthdays
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Thomas à Becket Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before booking anyone
- Whether travel is included
- Whether VAT is included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Allergen information for each dish
Also near Denvilles
More for events in Denvilles
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Is live paella right for your event?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
- Events in Denvilles and across Hampshire
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Live paella in Denvilles: local details
Denvilles is about 1 mile south-east of Havant, in Hampshire. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Denvilles and nearby villages. We cook in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 19 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Denvilles has its own station, Warblington station. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Warblington School, can book us as a food stall. The coast is within about 6 miles of Denvilles, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cater events across the PO9 and PO10 postcode area. Whether your event is on New Lane, Pook Lane and Elder Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Denvilles, we cover Warblington (1 mile south), Havant (1 mile north-west), Emsworth (1 mile east), Langstone (1 mile south-west) and Leigh Park (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cater in Gosport (9 miles south-west), Fareham (10 miles west), Horndean (4 miles north-west), Hedge End (15 miles west), Waterlooville (4 miles north-west) and Petersfield (10 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Warblington Castle (0.7 miles south) and Havant War Memorial Hospital (1 mile west). Open spaces near Denvilles include Brook Meadow (Emsworth).
- Schools near Denvilles include Fairfield Infant School (0.6 miles west)
- Local pubs include Six Bells pub (0.7 miles west)
- 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