Southampton · England
Paella Catering in Northam
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Northam: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
Live paella catering in Northam
About our paella catering in Northam
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is what we bring to events in Northam. We cook paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re frequently booked for weddings and evening receptions and office lunches and staff parties.
Around Northam, events are frequently in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
- Location
- Northam (SO14, SO19, SO18)
- 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
What paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What we need to know
To speed things up, tell us:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Expected numbers
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Towns and villages near Northam
More for events in Northam
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Count adults and children separately
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Northam until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us 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.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Northam, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Questions from Northam
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How much does paella catering cost in Northam?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Perfect for your event in Northam
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
In Northam and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Community events and fairs
Thinking of a picnic-style party in East Park? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Questions to ask before booking
- When final numbers are due
- A clear list of what’s included
- Who provides the crockery
- If the price includes VAT
Paella catering around Northam
Northam is about 1 mile south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. Events in Northam are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in 40 places across Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Augustine, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Bitterne Manor Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The New Forest National Park is within about 8 miles of Northam, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. The coast is within about 2 miles of Northam, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
This part of Southampton takes in SO14, SO19 and SO18. Your event could be at a home on Sea Road, Lumpy Lane and Cross Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Peartree Green (1 mile south), Bitterne Manor (1 mile north), Itchen (1 mile south-east), St Mary's (1 mile south-west) and Bitterne (1 mile east). Larger places within reach include Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (3 miles north-west), Coxford (3 miles north-west), Lordswood (3 miles north-west), Eling (5 miles west) and Rownhams (4 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.8 miles east) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Netley Common.
- Nearby schools include Inspire Enterprise Academy (0.8 miles south-west) and St Mary's Independent School (0.8 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Engineers Arms (under half a mile west)
Planners, venues and businesses
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 guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
- 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