Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Shawford
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Shawford.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Company summer parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering in Shawford
Paella catering in Shawford, made fresh on the day
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, there is very little waste, and the food is served hot. That is why it works for so many events. On the menu are vegan paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater wedding breakfasts and evening food and garden parties and summer barbecues.
For a rural spot like Shawford, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
What affects the price in Shawford
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The length of service
- How many staff you need
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Expected numbers
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you. The main points are:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
Shawford: your questions answered
What’s the nearest station to Shawford for guests?
Shawford has its own station: Shawford station.
How far is Shawford from London?
About 63 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Is paella a full meal?
It is a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shawford.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Nearby places to Shawford
What else we do in Shawford
How it works
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. In Shawford, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Shawford? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
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. Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Live paella in Shawford: local details
Shawford is about 3 miles south of Winchester, in Hampshire. Wherever your event is in the SO21 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 8 miles away.
Parks such as St. Cross Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Compton All Saints Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Paella catering in SO21 is planned around your venue and timings. From Shawford Road and Pearson Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Compton (1 mile west), Twyford (1 mile south-east), South Down (1 mile south-west), Otterbourne (1 mile south-west) and St Cross (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (3 miles north), Eastleigh (4 miles south), Fareham (13 miles south-east), Andover (15 miles north-west), Totton (11 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (4 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include The Gurkha Museum (2.3 miles north) and Royal Hampshire County Hospital (2.7 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Twyford Down and Hockley Meadows.
- Local pubs include The Bridge Inn (under half a mile south-west)
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Tell us what else is being served
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Count adults and children separately
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Occasions we cook for in Shawford
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Company summer parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Retirement and leaving parties
For guests coming by train, Shawford station is in Shawford itself.
Before you book anyone
- The wet-weather plan
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Staff numbers and hours
- 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