Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Hillhead
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Hillhead. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Planning an event in Hillhead?
Paella catering in Hillhead, cooked live
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. We’re frequently asked to cater engagement and anniversary parties and christenings and family gatherings, serving seafood paella, vegan paella and mixed paella.
In a hamlet or village like Hillhead, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
Hillhead: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
What’s the nearest station to Hillhead for guests?
Hamble station, about 4.3 miles north of the centre.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is paella enough as a main?
It is a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Step by step
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Evenings in Hillhead stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Hillhead? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, use our quote form.
Related guides
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The address or venue name
- The courses you’d like
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Working with your venue
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Hillhead? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Planning live paella in Hillhead
Hillhead is about 4 miles north of Cowes, in Hampshire. From the centre of Hillhead to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 8 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Osborne House (4.7 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hamble station, about 4.3 miles north. The New Forest National Park is within about 6 miles of Hillhead, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Hillhead is within about 4 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cook at events all over SO45. Nearby, we also cater events in Calshot (1 mile north-west), Sprat's Down (1 mile west), Stanswood (1 mile south-west), Stonehills (1 mile north-west) and Ashlett (1 mile north-west). Further out, we also cater in Gosport (7 miles east), Havant (15 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles north), Fareham (6 miles north-east), Horndean (15 miles north-east) and Totton (11 miles north-west).
A little further out are Sir Max Aitken Museum (3.3 miles south) and Calshot Castle (1 mile north-east). Open spaces near Hillhead include Mercury Marshes and Mill Hill.
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why choose Love Paella in Hillhead
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- A quote that spells everything out
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Count adults and children separately
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
Perfect for your event in Hillhead
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Company summer parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St George, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before you book anyone
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How long the team stays
- What happens if it rains
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Also near Hillhead
What else we do in Hillhead
- 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