Isle of Wight · England
Paella Catering in Nettlecombe
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Nettlecombe and across the Isle of Wight.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering in Nettlecombe
Paella catering in Nettlecombe, cooked live
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there’s very little waste, and the food arrives hot. That’s why it works for so many events. Typical bookings include anniversary celebrations and staff parties and work lunches, with mixed paella, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
For a rural spot like Nettlecombe, 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. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Nettlecombe (PO38)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Paella catering around Nettlecombe
Nettlecombe is about 7 miles south of Newport, in the Isle of Wight. Tell us where your event in Nettlecombe will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Nettlecombe is one of 125 towns and villages in the Isle of Wight where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 23 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Island Free School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Shanklin station is about 4.1 miles away. Nettlecombe is within about 3 miles of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
For paella catering in PO38, we plan around your venue and timings. If your venue is just outside Nettlecombe, we also cover Southford (1 mile north-west), Bierley (1 mile west), Wroxall (2 miles north-east), Godshill (2 miles north) and Sandford (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (7 miles north), Ryde (9 miles north-east), Cowes (11 miles north), Sandown (6 miles north-east), Shanklin (4 miles north-east) and East Cowes (11 miles north). Some remote venues need extra planning, so contact us in good time.
Nearby you will also find Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (4.1 miles north-east) and South Wight (2.6 miles east). The countryside around Nettlecombe includes Stenbury Down.
- Nearby, you’ll find The White Horse Inn (within half a mile south-west)
Other catering in Nettlecombe
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes 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’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. In Nettlecombe, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, 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.
- 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 sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Related guides
Nettlecombe questions
Is Nettlecombe too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Nettlecombe?
Shanklin station, about 4.1 miles north-east of the centre.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Is paella a full meal?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Count adults and children separately
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
The cost per head generally 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 to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- Anything your venue supplies
- The venue or postcode
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why choose Love Paella in Nettlecombe
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Events in Nettlecombe and across the Isle of Wight
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Perfect for your event in Nettlecombe
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Nettlecombe, people book us for events such as:
- Summer garden parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Milestone birthday parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Water Hydrant Opposite Parish Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Comparing caterers
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether VAT is included
- How long the team stays
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
For somewhere as remote as Nettlecombe, early notice helps us plan the trip.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Nettlecombe
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- 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