Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Shalden
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Shalden and the surrounding area.
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Shalden
How our paella catering works in Shalden
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. For christenings and family gatherings and anniversary celebrations, we can cook seafood paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In a hamlet or village like Shalden, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The venue or postcode
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
- Diets and allergies you know about
Planning paella catering in Shalden? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Shalden?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Shalden, people book us for occasions like:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Anniversary celebrations
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like HSDC Alton, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What your quote should include
- Whether travel is included
- Allergen information for each dish
- The wet-weather plan
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Where we can cook in Shalden
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Shalden
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
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.
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’ll 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 everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
What else we do in Shalden
Shalden: venues, travel and local tips
Shalden is about 2 miles north-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in Shalden, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Shalden is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Shalden to Guildford (about 19 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Historic houses near Shalden include Hall Place (2.5 miles south-west) and Bentworth Hall (2.6 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Here we cover the GU34 postcode area. From Southwood Road, Stancombe Lane and Shalden Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Shalden Green (1 mile north), Thedden (2 miles south-west), Beech (2 miles south), Bentworth (2 miles south-west) and Southrope (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Basingstoke (8 miles north-west), Farnborough (13 miles north-east), Fleet (10 miles north-east), Aldershot (12 miles north-east), Petersfield (12 miles south) and Yateley (14 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Gliding Heritage Centre (1.3 miles north-west) and Alton Community Hospital (2.3 miles south). Open spaces near Shalden include Holybourne Hill.
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Live paella or other catering?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Catering across Hampshire, including Shalden
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- No hidden extras in your quote
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Shalden? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Read more
Questions from Shalden
Is Shalden close to London?
Roughly 45 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Peter and St Paul: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater in Shalden?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Shalden is within our area and the rest of Hampshire. To check your date, use our quote form.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Is paella enough as a main?
Yes. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
- 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