Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Horndean events
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Horndean and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
Paella catering near Horndean
Your questions about paella catering in Horndean
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Horndean for guests?
Rowlands Castle station, about 2.6 miles south-east of the centre.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
How many different paellas?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Paella catering in Horndean, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is what we bring to events in Horndean. We are often asked to cater wedding breakfasts and evening food and big birthdays, with paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella.
A town like Horndean gives you plenty of options: your own garden, a club or hall with outside space, or a venue nearby. We’ll check the cooking spot with you before the day. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
About the dishes
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella compared with other options
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- We cover Horndean and the whole of Hampshire
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- How many guests are eating
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning live paella in Horndean
Horndean is about 7 miles north-east of Portsmouth, in Hampshire. For an event in Horndean, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Horndean is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 17 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Rowlands Castle station is about 2.6 miles away. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Horndean Technology College, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The South Downs National Park is within about 8 miles of Horndean. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Hampshire takes in PO8 and PO7, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. From London Road, Kings Mede and Causeway Farm or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Main roads around Horndean include the A3 and A3(M), so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Nearby, we also cater events in Lovedean (1 mile west), Wecock Farm (1 mile south-west), Catherington (2 miles north), Anmore (2 miles west) and Denmead (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Gosport (9 miles south-west), Havant (3 miles south), Eastleigh (15 miles west), Fareham (9 miles south-west), Hedge End (13 miles west) and Petersfield (7 miles north-east). As one of the bigger places in Hampshire, Horndean has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Other landmarks nearby include Havant War Memorial Hospital (3.8 miles south) and Clanfield Earthwork (3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Windmill Hill and Southmoor Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Horndean Infant School (0.5 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find Red Lion Inn (0.7 miles north-east)
How it works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Horndean until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Towns and villages near Horndean
Other catering in Horndean
Where we can cook in Horndean
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan 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