Southampton · England
Live paella catering in Sholing, Southampton
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Sholing.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering for Sholing events
Paella catering in Sholing, made fresh on the day
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it is ready, we serve it hot from the pan. Popular choices include mixed paella, vegan paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for christenings and family gatherings and summer garden parties.
In and around Sholing, gardens and local halls are common choices. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Sholing (SO19)
- County
- Southampton
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us what else is being served
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
Places near Sholing
What else we do in Sholing
Questions from Sholing
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
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 typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Do you cook inside?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Organising for someone else?
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Sholing? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Step by step
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Planning an evening event in Sholing? 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 sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- The paellas you choose
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Sholing? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Catering an event in Sholing
Sholing is about 2 miles south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Sholing and nearby villages. Sholing is one of 40 towns and villages in Southampton where we cook.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Monica Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Sholing station, about 0.5 miles south-west. Sholing is within about 8 miles of the New Forest National Park, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. The coast is within about 2 miles of Sholing, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
We cater events across SO19. Local streets include Bay Road, Ashby Road and Loane Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. You’ll find Sholing on the A3025, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Nearby, we also cater events in Itchen (1 mile west), Thornhill (1 mile north-east), Bitterne (1 mile north), Peartree Green (1 mile west) and Northam (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include Shirley (4 miles north-west), Regents Park (4 miles west), Maybush (5 miles north-west), Coxford (4 miles north-west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west). As one of the bigger places in Southampton, Sholing has lots of places to hold an event.
Other landmarks nearby include Netley Castle (1.6 miles south) and Marlands Shopping Centre (2.3 miles west). Open spaces near Sholing include Netley Common.
- Local schools include Oasis Academy Sholing (within half a mile north) and Woolston School (0.6 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion pub (1 mile north)
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Why choose paella catering in Sholing?
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.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Sholing and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
- Staff parties and work lunches
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.
Questions to ask before you book
- Travel and parking costs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
Why choose live paella in Sholing?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Sholing
- A clear, itemised quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Events in Sholing and across Southampton
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- 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