Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Lockerley, Hampshire
Planning paella catering in Lockerley? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Garden get-togethers
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Book paella catering in Lockerley
The process
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Around midsummer it stays light in Lockerley until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s 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 early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
About our paella catering in Lockerley
There is something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. On the menu are vegetable paella, paella Valenciana and vegan paella, and we are regularly asked to cater community events and fairs and garden parties and summer barbecues.
In a rural place like Lockerley, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
Places near Lockerley
Other catering in Lockerley
Planners, venues and businesses
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Space, weather and the venue
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
Lockerley questions
Is Lockerley too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St John?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Lockerley.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you cover Lockerley?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Lockerley. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is 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.
Why book with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Have seats for most of your guests
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is usually the most photographed pan.
Planning live paella in Lockerley
Lockerley is about 5 miles north-west of Romsey, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Lockerley, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Lockerley is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 11 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St John, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Lockerley Church of England Endowed Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
We cater events across the SO51 postcode area and the streets around it. From Butlers Close, Oval Road and Clem's Way or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Carter's Clay (1 mile south-east), Dunbridge (1 mile east), Mottisfont (2 miles east), Kimbridge (2 miles east) and Awbridge (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (11 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles south-east), Andover (13 miles north), Totton (8 miles south), Chandler's Ford (9 miles east) and Hedge End (14 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Romsey Community Hospital (4.9 miles south-east).
- Nearby, you will find Kings Arms Public House (under half a mile east)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Perfect for your event in Lockerley
There is no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Birthday celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
Historic houses near Lockerley include Mottisfont Abbey (1.8 miles east) and Landford Manor (4.3 miles south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- Staff numbers and hours
- Space, access and power needs
- How bad weather is handled
- 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