Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Gundleton, Hampshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Gundleton.
- Summer garden parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
Paella catering for Gundleton events
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Confirm allergies by email
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
How our paella catering works in Gundleton
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. Popular choices include vegan paella, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for engagement and anniversary parties and garden parties and summer barbecues.
Somewhere as small as Gundleton, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Planning an evening event in Gundleton? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Gundleton
Also in Gundleton
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Live paella or other catering?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Catering across Hampshire, including Gundleton
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Gundleton: venues, travel and local tips
Gundleton is about 7 miles south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Gundleton or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 17 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Hinton Ampner House (4 miles south) and Bentworth Hall (4.5 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Anywhere in SO24, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Goscombs Lane and Bighton Lane or the roads around them. For events just outside Gundleton, we cover Bishop's Sutton (1 mile south-west), New Alresford (2 miles west), Bramdean (3 miles south), Hinton Ampner (4 miles south) and Cheriton (4 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (12 miles north), Winchester (9 miles west), Eastleigh (13 miles south-west), Horndean (14 miles south), Chandler's Ford (14 miles south-west) and Alton (7 miles north-east).
A little further out are Barton Castle (2.9 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Shutts Copse and Red Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find Three Horseshoes Public House (0.7 miles north-west)
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
What affects the price in Gundleton
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Whether you need crockery
- Travel, parking and access
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What to tell us
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
FAQs for Gundleton
Is Gundleton close to London?
Roughly 52 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you come out to small places like Gundleton?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, including Hampshire. Find your area.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
What happens with live paella?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you cater in Gundleton?
Yes, we do. Gundleton is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
- 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