Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Durford Wood
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Durford Wood: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Garden get-togethers
- Community events and fairs
- Naming days and family parties
Live paella catering in Durford Wood
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
How our paella catering works in Durford Wood
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the aroma does the rest. Typical bookings include retirement celebrations and anniversary celebrations, serving mixed paella, vegan paella and vegetable paella.
Somewhere as small as Durford Wood, a garden or field is frequently the venue. 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 plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Towns and villages near Durford Wood
Also in Durford Wood
Catering an event in Durford Wood
Durford Wood is about 3 miles north-east of Petersfield, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Durford Wood will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 20 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Liss station is about 1 mile away. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Liss Infant School, can book us as a food stall. Durford Wood is within about 3 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in GU33 and GU31, we plan around your venue and timings. Whether your event is on Stodham Lane and Pruetts Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in West Liss (1 mile north), Hill Brow (1 mile east), Liss (1 mile north), The Mint (2 miles north-east) and Liss Forest (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Havant (12 miles south), Horndean (10 miles south-west), Alton (9 miles north-west), Waterlooville (12 miles south-west), Petersfield (3 miles south-west) and Purbrook (13 miles south-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Bear Museum (2.7 miles south-west) and Petersfield Community Hospital (2.8 miles south-west). Not far away are Wheatham Hill and Liss Riverside Railway Walk South.
- Pubs nearby include Whistle Stop pub (0.9 miles north)
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
What affects the price in Durford Wood
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
- How long we’re needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The venue or postcode
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
How it works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evenings in Durford Wood stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Durford Wood questions
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
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. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Durford Wood for guests?
The closest is Liss station, roughly 1 mile away.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Working with your venue
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Occasions we cook for in Durford Wood
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Summer garden parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Questions to ask before you book
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether VAT is included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- What the price includes, item by item
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Durford Wood
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Catering across Hampshire, including Durford Wood
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
- 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