Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Selborne events
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Selborne.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering near Selborne
About our paella catering in Selborne
Paella is generous food: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, mixed paella and vegan paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater big birthdays and wedding breakfasts and evening food.
In a small place like Selborne, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Planning an evening event in Selborne? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or GU34 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
What we need at the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask for labels on each pan
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Live paella in Selborne: local details
Selborne is about 4 miles south of Alton, in Hampshire. For paella catering in Selborne, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Selborne is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Selborne to Guildford (about 19 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Selborne Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 3.8 miles away. Selborne is within about 7 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in GU34 is planned around your venue. From Huckers Lane, Ganders Close and Selborne Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Selborne for paella catering include Newton Valence (1 mile west), Empshott (2 miles south-east), Lower Green (3 miles south), Hawkley (3 miles south) and Oakshott (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (13 miles north-west), Fleet (13 miles north), Horndean (14 miles south), Aldershot (13 miles north-east), Alton (4 miles north) and Waterlooville (15 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include The Romany Museum (within half a mile south-east) and Alton Community Hospital (3.5 miles north-west). The countryside around Selborne includes Selborne Hill and Deadwater Valley.
- Local pubs include The Jubilee Tap (under half a mile south)
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The paellas you choose
- Travel, parking and access
- Waiting and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A photo of the space, if you can
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Perfect for your event in Selborne
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Summer garden parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
- Community events and fairs
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- The venue requirements
- Whether VAT is included
- When payment is due
- When final numbers are due
Questions from Selborne
Is Selborne close to London?
Roughly 46 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Towns and villages near Selborne
What else we do in Selborne
- 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