Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Pennington events
Looking for paella catering in Pennington? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Birthday celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering in Pennington
Is live paella right for your event?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why Pennington hosts choose us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Drinks service on request
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
How our paella catering works in Pennington
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are paella Valenciana, mixed paella and seafood paella, and we are frequently booked for naming days and family parties and anniversaries and engagement parties.
There may be a hall or club near Pennington if your garden is small; live paella can work at any of them, given permission and outdoor space. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
Pennington: venues, travel and local tips
Pennington is about 1 mile south-west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Pennington, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cater in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Pennington to Southampton (about 14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Lymington Town station, about 1.2 miles north-east. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mark, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Pennington is within about 5 miles of the New Forest National Park. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking. Pennington is within about a mile of the sea, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Wherever your event is in SO41, we can cook for your guests. We can cater an event on streets such as Mead Road, Pound Road and Elm Avenue. For events just outside Pennington, we cover Lymington (1 mile north-east), Lower Pennington (1 mile south), Walhampton (1 mile north-east), Everton (1 mile west) and Lymore (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Totton (12 miles north), Hythe (10 miles north-east), New Milton (5 miles west), Ringwood (12 miles north-west), Locks Heath (15 miles north-east) and Warsash (14 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (0.9 miles north-east) and Yarmouth Castle (3.9 miles south-east). Not far away are Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve.
- Schools near Pennington include Pennington Infant School (within half a mile north)
- Local pubs include White Hart Inn (within half a mile north-east)
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Your choice of paellas
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the space, if you can
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.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Organising for someone else?
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Towns and villages near Pennington
Other catering in Pennington
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Pennington 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 4:05pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Occasions we cook for in Pennington
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Priestlands School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What your quote should include
- VAT, if it applies
- How late numbers can change
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What happens if it rains
Pennington questions
Which station should guests use for Pennington?
The closest is Lymington Town station, roughly 1.2 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mark?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Which paellas suit our guests?
That depends on who’s coming. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Hampshire. Find your area.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
- 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