Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Sherborne St John, Hampshire
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Sherborne St John.
- Milestone birthday parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
Live paella catering in Sherborne St John
Paella catering in Sherborne St John, made fresh on the day
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include milestone birthday parties and engagement and anniversary parties, serving mixed paella, paella Valenciana and chicken and chorizo paella.
For a rural spot like Sherborne St John, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Planning an evening event in Sherborne St John? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
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For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
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.
Planning live paella in Sherborne St John
Sherborne St John is about 2 miles north of Basingstoke, in Hampshire. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Sherborne St John and nearby villages. Sherborne St John is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Sherborne St John to Reading (about 12 miles away).
Historic houses near Sherborne St John include The Vyne (1.2 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For guests coming by train, Basingstoke station is about 2.1 miles away.
Here we cover the RG24 postcode area. From Cranes Road, Bourne Field and Church Path or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside Sherborne St John, we cover Rooksdown (1 mile south-west), Winklebury (2 miles south), Basingstoke (2 miles south), Worting (3 miles south-west) and South Ham (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Farnborough (15 miles east), Fleet (12 miles east), Aldershot (15 miles east), Alton (12 miles south-east), Yateley (12 miles east) and Tadley (4 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Basing House (3.1 miles south-east) and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital (1.1 miles south). Not far away are Daneshill Park Woods.
- Schools near Sherborne St John include Everest Community Academy (0.9 miles south-east)
Places near Sherborne St John
Also in Sherborne St John
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Sherborne St John hosts choose us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Events in Sherborne St John and across Hampshire
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Common questions in Sherborne St John
Is Sherborne St John close to London?
Roughly 46 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St. Andrew: 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 usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
On the menu in Sherborne St John
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Your choice of paellas
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Expected numbers
- The venue or postcode
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Who books paella catering in Sherborne St John?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- When payment is due
- How bad weather is handled
- Staff numbers and hours
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- 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