Isle of Wight · England
Paella Catering for Dunsbury events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Dunsbury. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
Book paella catering in Dunsbury
About our paella catering in Dunsbury
Paella is generous food: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. Whether it is fairs, fêtes and festivals and wedding breakfasts and evening food, we can cook mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
In a small place like Dunsbury, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Dunsbury (PO30)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Request clear labels at the serving table
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Timings and hours
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
Send us the date, your venue or PO30 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just fill in our quote form.
Working with your venue
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival 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’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Dunsbury questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
We are having a ceremony at St. Mary's 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 usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
How many different paellas?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Do you cover Dunsbury?
We do. We cook at events in Dunsbury and across the Isle of Wight. Send us your date to check availability.
What happens with live paella?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Live paella in Dunsbury: local details
Dunsbury is about 7 miles south-west of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Dunsbury and the surrounding area. We cook in 125 places in the Isle of Wight, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Dunsbury to Southampton (about 18 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Mottistone Manor (1.2 miles east) and Swainston Manor (4 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. Dunsbury is within about 4 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cover events in every part of the PO30 postcode area and the streets around it. Nearby, we also cater events in Brook (1 mile south), Hulverstone (1 mile south-east), Brookgreen (1 mile south-east), Shalcombe (1 mile north-east) and Chilton Green (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Newport (7 miles north-east), Ryde (14 miles east), Cowes (9 miles north-east), Sandown (13 miles east), Shanklin (12 miles east) and Ventnor (12 miles east). If your event is somewhere remote, let us know early and we’ll plan the trip.
Other landmarks nearby include Yarmouth Castle (3.9 miles north-west) and Calbourne Water Mill And Rural Museum (2.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Dunsbury includes Westover Down.
Why choose paella catering in Dunsbury?
There is no kitchen needed, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Company summer parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Naming days and family parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St. Mary's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
Live paella or other catering?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Dunsbury hosts choose us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A clear, itemised quote
Towns and villages near Dunsbury
More for events in Dunsbury
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Dunsbury stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
- 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