Isle of Wight · England
Paella Catering for Gurnard events
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Gurnard and the surrounding area.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
Book paella catering in Gurnard
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Gurnard 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.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Related guides
About our paella catering in Gurnard
The cooking is half the fun. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the aroma does the rest. On the menu are vegetable paella, black rice and paella Valenciana, and we are frequently booked for retirement and leaving parties and birthday celebrations.
In a hamlet or village like Gurnard, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- Gurnard (PO31)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What paella catering costs
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- Timings and hours
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- What the venue already provides
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Where the event is
- Your date and when you want to eat
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Gurnard: your questions answered
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 are having a ceremony at All Saints' Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
How much does paella catering cost in Gurnard?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
Is paella enough as a main?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Occasions we cook for in Gurnard
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
In Gurnard and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
- Community events and fairs
Nearby historic houses include Osborne House (2.3 miles east) and Carisbrooke Castle (4.7 miles south). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
What to look for in a quote
- What the price includes, item by item
- Who provides the crockery
- How bad weather is handled
- How each diet is kept separate
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
For somewhere as remote as Gurnard, early notice helps us plan the trip.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Towns and villages near Gurnard
Also in Gurnard
Gurnard: venues, travel and local tips
Gurnard is about 1 mile west of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. Anywhere in PO31, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Gurnard is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight we cover. Our events stretch from Gurnard to Southampton (about 12 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as All Saints' Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Gurnard Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The coast is within about a mile of Gurnard, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Paella catering in PO31 is planned around your venue and your guests. From Cow Lane, The Avenue and Shore Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Gurnard, we also cover Cowes (1 mile east), Northwood (1 mile south), Rew Street (1 mile south-west), Great Thorness (2 miles south-west) and Noke Common (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Newport (4 miles south), Ryde (7 miles east), Sandown (10 miles south-east), Shanklin (11 miles south-east), Ventnor (12 miles south-east) and Oakfield (8 miles east). Some remote venues need extra planning, so contact us in good time.
Nearby you will also find St Mary's Hospital (3.2 miles south) and Isle of Wight Natural History Centre (0.5 miles south-east). The countryside around Gurnard includes Mill Hill and Briddlesford Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Cowes Enterprise College (0.8 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Portland Inn (within half a mile south-east)
Why choose live paella in Gurnard?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why Gurnard hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Drinks service on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us how many children are coming
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you’re organising for someone else, 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.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
- 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