Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Hartley Mauditt, Hampshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Hartley Mauditt. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Planning an event in Hartley Mauditt?
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
About our paella catering in Hartley Mauditt
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. On the menu are vegetable paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for garden get-togethers and christenings and family gatherings.
In a small place like Hartley Mauditt, events are normally 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. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. In general, we need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Hartley Mauditt
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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’ll do the cooking.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why Hartley Mauditt hosts choose us
- We cover Hartley Mauditt and the whole of Hampshire
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Paella catering around Hartley Mauditt
Hartley Mauditt is about 3 miles south-east of Alton, in Hampshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Hartley Mauditt or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Hartley Mauditt is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Hartley Mauditt to Guildford (about 18 miles away).
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Leonard's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
This part of Hampshire takes in GU34, so your event can be anywhere in it. If your venue is just outside Hartley Mauditt, we also cover East Worldham (1 mile north), Oakhanger (2 miles east), Upper Farringdon (2 miles west), Farringdon (2 miles west) and Chawton (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (12 miles north-west), Farnborough (14 miles north-east), Fleet (12 miles north-east), Horndean (15 miles south), Aldershot (12 miles north-east) and Alton (3 miles north-west).
A little further out are Alton Community Hospital (2.5 miles north-west) and The Romany Museum (1.6 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Selborne Hill and Deadwater Valley.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
Occasions we cook for in Hartley Mauditt
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Milestone birthday parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 2.5 miles away.
Questions to ask before booking
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The deadline for final numbers
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Space, access and power needs
FAQs for Hartley Mauditt
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Leonard's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Hartley Mauditt from London?
About 45 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How it works
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Planning an evening event in Hartley Mauditt? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
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Also near Hartley Mauditt
Also in Hartley Mauditt
- 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