Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Hound events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hound: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
Paella catering in Hound
Paella catering in Hound, made fresh on the day
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. Whether it is big birthdays and anniversary celebrations, we can cook vegetable paella, black rice and seafood paella and more.
In a rural place like Hound, the setting does a lot of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What you get with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
See How we price And The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
For planners, venues and organisers
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you are organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Step by step
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Planning an evening event in Hound? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- 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.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What affects the price in Hound
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many courses
- How many guests are eating
- How long we’re needed on site
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- The date and time of the event
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Hound, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Towns and villages near Hound
More for events in Hound
About the dishes
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Live paella in Hound: local details
Hound is about 3 miles east of Hythe, in Hampshire. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Hound. We cover 683 places across Hampshire.
For guests coming by train, Hound has its own station, Netley station. Nearby historic houses include Medieval Merchant's House (3.4 miles north-west) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (3.5 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. The New Forest National Park is within about 7 miles of Hound, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Hound is within about 2 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in SO31, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Hound Road, Hound Road Gardens and Hound Close or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Close by, we cover events in Butlocks Heath (1 mile north), Netley (1 mile north-west), Hamble-le-Rice (1 mile south-east), Old Netley (1 mile north-east) and Bursledon (1 mile north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (13 miles north), Gosport (9 miles south-east), Havant (15 miles east), Eastleigh (6 miles north), Fareham (6 miles east) and Horndean (14 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum (2.2 miles north-east) and Netley Castle (1 mile west). Open spaces near Hound include Mercury Marshes.
- Local schools include Netley Abbey Infant School (0.7 miles north-west) and Grove Park Business and Enterprise College (1.3 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include Prince Consort Public House (0.7 miles west)
Hound questions
Which station should guests use for Hound?
Netley station, in Hound itself.
Can you cook near the sea around Hound?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What equipment do you bring?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
It is ideal. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
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
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
On the menu in Hound
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- 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