Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Forest Corner events
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Forest Corner and Hampshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering near Forest Corner
Paella catering in Forest Corner, cooked live
A couple of different pans covers everyone: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own, so diets are easy to manage. Typical bookings include weddings and evening receptions and big birthdays, with vegan paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana.
For a rural spot like Forest Corner, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Around midsummer it stays light in Forest Corner until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:05pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
Planning paella catering in Forest Corner? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Live paella or other catering?
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. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why book with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
See How we price And The cost guide.
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Events we cater in Forest Corner
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Forest Corner and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Anniversary celebrations
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St John the Baptist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before you book
- When final numbers are due
- If the price includes VAT
- What happens if it rains
- A clear list of what’s included
Paella catering around Forest Corner
Forest Corner is about 1 mile east of Ringwood, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the BH24 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cover 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Forest Corner to Southampton (16 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Poulner Infant School, can book us as a food stall. Historic houses near Forest Corner include Avon Tyrrell House (3.6 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. The New Forest National Park is within about 3 miles of Forest Corner. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Wherever your event is in BH24, we can cook for your guests. From Burcombe Lane, St Aubyns Lane and Picket Hill or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Forest Corner, we also cover Foulford (1 mile south-east), Shobley (1 mile north-east), Hangersley (1 mile north-west), Poulner (1 mile west) and Hightown (1 mile south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Totton (12 miles north-east), Lymington (11 miles south-east), Romsey (15 miles north-east), Hythe (15 miles east), New Milton (8 miles south-east) and Barton on Sea (9 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include St Leonard's Hospital (5.3 miles south-west). Open spaces near Forest Corner include Blashford Lakes and Linbrook Lake.
- Local schools include Ringwood School Academy (1.6 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The London Tavern (0.9 miles west)
More for events in Forest Corner
Forest Corner: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Forest Corner?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
What seafood can we have?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Tell us how many children are coming
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that is when we invite guests up.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
- 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