Southampton · England
Paella Catering in Itchen
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Itchen and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Community events and fairs
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering for Itchen events
Questions from Itchen
Is Itchen close to London?
Roughly 69 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
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 work to whatever the site needs.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we will cook a separate pan.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
About our paella catering in Itchen
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own, so diets are easy to manage. Typical bookings include leaving dos and retirements and big birthdays, serving chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana.
In and around Itchen, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Itchen (SO19, SO14)
- Region
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Nearby places to Itchen
Other catering in Itchen
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Where we can cook in Itchen
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Why choose live paella in Itchen?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Around midsummer it stays light in Itchen until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Planning help
What paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Paella catering around Itchen
Itchen is about 2 miles south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. Whether your event is in the middle of Itchen or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover all 40 towns and villages across Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Jesus Chapel - St Mary Extra, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Houndwell Park? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Itchen is within about 7 miles of the New Forest National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. The coast is within about 2 miles of Itchen, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
This part of Southampton takes in SO19 and SO14, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Sea Road, Oak Road and West Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Itchen is on the A3025, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Other places close to Itchen for paella catering include Peartree Green (1 mile north-west), Northam (1 mile north-west), Sholing (1 mile east), Bitterne (1 mile north-east) and St Mary's (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include Shirley (3 miles north-west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles north-west), Coxford (4 miles north-west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Southampton, Itchen has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
A little further out are Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.9 miles north) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.6 miles west). Not far away are Netley Common.
- Nearby schools include Woolston School (under half a mile south) and Oasis Academy Sholing (0.6 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The Engineers Arms (1 mile north-west)
Occasions we cook for in Itchen
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Company summer parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Ludlow Junior School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before booking anyone
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- VAT, if it applies
- Payment terms and deposit
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- 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