Southampton · England
Live paella catering in Midanbury, Southampton
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Midanbury.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Book paella catering in Midanbury
Midanbury: your questions answered
Is Midanbury close to London?
Roughly 68 miles from the centre of London.
What’s the nearest station to Midanbury for guests?
The closest is Bitterne station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How much does paella catering cost in Midanbury?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we’ll reply with a price.
About our paella catering in Midanbury
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. For family celebrations and christenings and community events and fairs, we can cook vegetable paella, black rice and vegan paella and more.
For a place the size of Midanbury, your own garden is often the best venue: no hire fees, and live paella feeds everyone without anyone stuck in the kitchen. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Location
- Midanbury (SO18, SO17, SO19)
- County
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Places near Midanbury
Other catering in Midanbury
Why choose live paella in Midanbury?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What you get with us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
How it works
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. In Midanbury, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Should I cook it myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
How we price paella catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The number of people
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Which courses you have in mind
- What the venue already provides
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Catering an event in Midanbury
Midanbury is about 1 mile east of Southampton, in Southampton. For paella catering in Midanbury, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Midanbury is one of 40 places in Southampton where we cook.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Bitterne station, about 0.8 miles south-west. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of Ascension, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The coast is within about 3 miles of Midanbury, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in SO18, SO17 and SO19, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Neva Road, Avon Road and Bond Road or the roads around them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Bitterne Park (1 mile south-west), Townhill Park (1 mile north-east), Chartwell Green (1 mile north-east), Mansbridge (1 mile north) and Bitterne (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Shirley (3 miles west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles west), Coxford (3 miles west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (3 miles west). As one of the bigger places in Southampton, Midanbury has plenty of venues and gardens for events.
Nearby you’ll also find Marlands Shopping Centre (2.3 miles south-west) and Netley Castle (3.4 miles south). The countryside around Midanbury includes Netley Common.
- Local schools include The Gregg School (under half a mile north-east) and Townhill Junior School (0.5 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include Bitterne Park Hotel (0.5 miles west)
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
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.
- 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