Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for New Forest events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in New Forest: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests.
- Birthday celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Planning an event in New Forest?
Paella catering in New Forest, cooked live
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field. Typical bookings include birthday celebrations and retirement celebrations, serving seafood paella, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella.
For a rural spot like New Forest, the countryside is part of the appeal: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
Events we cater in New Forest
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in New Forest and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Office lunches and staff parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- Space, access and power needs
- How each diet is kept separate
- Staff numbers and hours
- How bad weather is handled
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in New Forest until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:05pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including 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.
How to prepare
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Getting a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in New Forest, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
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New Forest: venues, travel and local tips
New Forest is in Hampshire. For paella catering in New Forest, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around New Forest. We cover all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 23 miles away.
We cater events across the SP6 postcode area and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as Sillens Lane and Townsend Lane. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Martin (1 mile north-east), Rockbourne (3 miles east) and Damerham (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Ringwood (11 miles south-east), Fordingbridge (6 miles south-east), St Leonards (11 miles south), Alderholt (6 miles south-east), Poulner (11 miles south-east) and Ashley Heath (10 miles south).
A little further out are Cranborne Castle Hill (4.4 miles south). Not far away are Western Downs.
Places near New Forest
More for events in New Forest
Why choose live paella in New Forest?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why New Forest hosts choose us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Events in New Forest and across Hampshire
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we’re needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Your date and when you want to eat
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Where we can cook in New Forest
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
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.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Your questions about paella catering in New Forest
Do you come out to small places like New Forest?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We are having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Which paella is most popular?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
- 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