Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Mead End, Hampshire
Planning paella catering in Mead End? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Garden get-togethers
Live paella catering in Mead End
Paella compared with other options
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Mead End
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Catering across Hampshire, including Mead End
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
How our paella catering works in Mead End
Keep it simple, or go all out: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will recommend what fits your event. On the menu are vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for big birthdays and community events and fairs.
For a rural spot like Mead End, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
Mead End questions
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
We’re having a ceremony at St Andrew: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Catering an event in Mead End
Mead End is about 4 miles north-west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Anywhere in SO41, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 14 miles away.
Historic houses near Mead End include Highcliffe Castle (4.8 miles south-west) and Avon Tyrrell House (4.9 miles west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For guests coming by train, Sway station is about 0.9 miles away. Mead End is within about 4 miles of the New Forest National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. The coast is within about 5 miles of Mead End, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in SO41, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Marley Mount and Boundway or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Mead End, we cover Tiptoe (1 mile south), Sway (1 mile east), Bashley (1 mile south-west), Ashley (2 miles south) and Wootton (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Totton (11 miles north-east), Lymington (4 miles south-east), Hythe (11 miles north-east), Ringwood (8 miles north-west), Barton on Sea (3 miles south-west) and Dibden Purlieu (11 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Lymington New Forest Hospital (3.8 miles east) and Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (2.2 miles south-west). Open spaces near Mead End include Milford on Sea LNR.
- Pubs nearby include The Plough Public House (0.8 miles south)
Space, weather and the venue
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Events we cater in Mead End
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Mead End and Hampshire:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Office lunches and staff parties
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Andrew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before booking anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The wet-weather plan
- A clear list of what’s included
- How long the team stays
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- The number of people
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
- Any dietary needs and allergies
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Mead End? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
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
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. Evenings in Mead End stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Mead End? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
More for events in Mead End
- 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