Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hartley Wintney: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Company summer parties
Planning an event in Hartley Wintney?
How our paella catering works in Hartley Wintney
A couple of different pans covers everyone: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Every pan is cooked on its own. For weddings and evening receptions and garden parties and summer barbecues, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella and more.
For a place the size of Hartley Wintney, your own garden is often the best venue: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Nearby places to Hartley Wintney
Also in Hartley Wintney
Perfect for your event in Hartley Wintney
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Hartley Wintney:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Company summer parties
For guests coming by train, Winchfield station is about 1.4 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether travel is included
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Catering an event in Hartley Wintney
Hartley Wintney is about 4 miles north-west of Fleet, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Hartley Wintney, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cover 683 places in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Reading, about 10 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St John's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Greenfields Junior School, can book us as a food stall.
For paella catering in RG27, we plan around your venue and timings. From London Road, High Street and Harthouse Court or a nearby road, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Hartley Wintney, we also cover Mattingley (2 miles west), Hazeley (2 miles north-west), Hound Green (3 miles north-west), Rotherwick (3 miles west) and Bramshill (3 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (9 miles west), Farnborough (6 miles east), Fleet (4 miles south-east), Aldershot (7 miles south-east), Alton (11 miles south) and Yateley (4 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Fleet Community Hospital (2.6 miles south-east) and West Green House Agricultural Museum (1.2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Hitches Hill and Dogmersfield Lake.
- Nearby, you will find The Waggon & Horses pub (within half a mile north-east)
Common questions in Hartley Wintney
Can you cater a reception after a service at St John'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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Hartley Wintney from London?
About 37 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
For event organisers in Hartley Wintney
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch while it cooks. Evenings in Hartley Wintney stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Get a quote
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ask for labels on each pan
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
What affects the price in Hartley Wintney
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How long we are needed on site
- How many staff you need
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Hartley Wintney
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- 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