Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Knapp
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Knapp.
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Paella catering for Knapp events
Paella catering in Knapp, made fresh on the day
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include retirement celebrations and weddings, from canapés to evening food, serving chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
For a rural spot like Knapp, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Nearby places to Knapp
What else we do in Knapp
Catering an event in Knapp
Knapp is about 2 miles north-west of Chandler's Ford, in Hampshire. For paella catering in Knapp, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. Knapp is one of 683 places in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 7 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Ampfield Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chandlers Ford station, about 2.5 miles south-east.
Wherever your event is in SO51, we can bring paella catering to you. If your venue is just outside Knapp, we also cover Ampfield (1 mile south-west), Broadgate (1 mile south-east), Gosport (1 mile south-west), Lower Slackstead (1 mile north-west) and Crampmoor (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (6 miles north-east), Eastleigh (5 miles south-east), Fareham (15 miles south-east), Andover (14 miles north), Totton (7 miles south-west) and Hedge End (8 miles south-east).
A little further out are Romsey Community Hospital (2.9 miles south-west) and King Johns House (3.7 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Emer Bog and Baddesley Common.
- Pubs nearby include White Horse Public House (0.5 miles south-west)
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
What affects the price in Knapp
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
- Travel, parking and access
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and rough timings
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
How it works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Around midsummer it stays light in Knapp 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
FAQs for Knapp
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mark: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Knapp from London?
About 67 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can we choose the seafood?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Perfect for your event in Knapp
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Community events and fairs
- Company summer parties
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mark, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before you book
- Allergen information for each dish
- A clear list of what’s included
- When payment is due
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Tell us how many children are coming
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Why choose live paella in Knapp?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
- 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