Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in North Stoneham
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in North Stoneham: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Birthday celebrations
- Company summer parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Paella catering near North Stoneham
Paella catering in North Stoneham, made fresh on the day
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. We are frequently asked to cater family celebrations and christenings and retirement celebrations, serving seafood paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a rural place like North Stoneham, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Planning live paella in North Stoneham
North Stoneham is about 2 miles south-west of Eastleigh, in Hampshire. For an event in North Stoneham, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. North Stoneham is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Lakeside Country Park? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Southampton Airport Parkway station, about 0.8 miles south-east. The coast is within about 4 miles of North Stoneham, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Wherever your event is in SO50, we can bring paella catering to you. From Turnor Way and Stoneham Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside North Stoneham, we cover Swaythling (1 mile south), Bassett Green (1 mile south), Mansbridge (1 mile south-east), Eastleigh (2 miles north-east) and Boyatt Wood (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Winchester (8 miles north), Gosport (14 miles south-east), Fareham (11 miles south-east), Totton (6 miles south-west), Hedge End (4 miles south-east) and Romsey (5 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Princess Anne Hospital (2.7 miles south-west) and Eastleigh Museum (1.5 miles north-east). Open spaces near North Stoneham include Flexford Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton (0.6 miles south) and Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton (0.6 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Fleming Arms Public House (1 mile south)
Why choose live paella in North Stoneham?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
Questions from North Stoneham
Which station should guests use for North Stoneham?
The closest is Southampton Airport Parkway station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
Can you cook in Lakeside Country Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Are premium seafood options available?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
Towns and villages near North Stoneham
Other catering in North Stoneham
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Travel, parking and access
- The number of people
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The courses you’d like
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
How the day works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Around midsummer it stays light in North Stoneham until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- 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
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Why choose paella catering in North Stoneham?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
These are some of the occasions we cater around North Stoneham:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Nearby historic houses include South Stoneham House (1.3 miles south) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (4 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before you book anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- The wet-weather plan
- Staff numbers and hours
- Who provides the crockery
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Count adults and children separately
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
- 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