Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Highcliffe, Hampshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Highcliffe: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering near Highcliffe
Paella catering in Highcliffe, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include company summer parties and summer garden parties, with paella Valenciana, vegan paella and vegetable paella.
There may be a hall or club near Highcliffe if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 will do the cooking.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Your questions about paella catering in Highcliffe
Can you cook in St. Cross Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Can you cater a reception after a service at All Saints?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Highcliffe: venues, travel and local tips
Highcliffe is about 1 mile east of Winchester, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Highcliffe, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cook in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 10 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like All Saints, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winchester station, about 1.1 miles north-west.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO23, SO21 and SO20, so your event can be anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Moss Road, Vale Road and Domum Road or the roads around them. Being close to the M3 and A31, Highcliffe is easy for us to reach. If your venue is just outside Highcliffe, we also cover Bar End (1 mile south-west), Winchester (1 mile west), Hyde (1 mile north-west), St Cross (1 mile south-west) and Abbotts Barton (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Eastleigh (6 miles south), Fareham (15 miles south), Andover (13 miles north-west), Totton (13 miles south-west), Chandler's Ford (6 miles south-west) and Hedge End (10 miles south).
Nearby you will also find St John's Rooms And Chapel (within half a mile north-west) and Wolvesey Castle (less than half a mile west). Green spaces nearby include Twyford Down and Winnall Moors.
- Schools near Highcliffe include Leigh House Hospital (0.9 miles north-east) and Peter Symonds College (1.2 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include Heart in Hand pub (within half a mile south-west)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Highcliffe hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- A clear, itemised quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Events in Highcliffe and across Hampshire
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
For event organisers in Highcliffe
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Occasions we cook for in Highcliffe
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Thinking of a picnic-style party in St. Cross Park? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- Space, access and power needs
- If the price includes VAT
- How long the team stays
The process
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Highcliffe until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
How to get a price
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Places near Highcliffe
More for events in Highcliffe
- 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