Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Soake, Hampshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Soake: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Community events and fairs
Book paella catering in Soake
How our paella catering works in Soake
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. Typical bookings include big birthdays and festivals, fairs and school events, with vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella.
In a rural place like Soake, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
Catering an event in Soake
Soake is about 1 mile north-west of Waterlooville, in Hampshire. From the centre of Soake to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 15 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Mead End, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Bedhampton station is about 3.7 miles away.
For paella catering in PO7, we plan around your venue. Your event could be at a home on Soake Road and Hambledon Road or the roads around them. Other places close to Soake for paella catering include Furzeley Corner (1 mile south-west), Hart Plain (1 mile east), Cowplain (1 mile east), Waterlooville (1 mile south-east) and Purbrook Heath (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Gosport (8 miles south-west), Havant (4 miles south-east), Eastleigh (14 miles west), Fareham (7 miles south-west), Hedge End (11 miles west) and Petersfield (9 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Clanfield Earthwork (4.7 miles north-east) and Queen Alexandra Hospital (3.2 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Southmoor Nature Reserve and Portsdown Hill.
- Local schools include The Cowplain School (1.1 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Mead End pub (0.5 miles north-west)
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- The paellas you choose
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The address or venue name
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Your date and when you want to eat
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Send allergies to us in writing
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
FAQs for Soake
Which station should guests use for Soake?
The closest is Bedhampton station, roughly 3.7 miles away.
Is Soake close to London?
About 59 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
How it works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Evenings in Soake stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Soake? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Occasions we cook for in Soake
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Soake and Hampshire:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Denmead Junior School, can book us as a food stall.
Questions to ask before booking
- A clear list of what’s included
- How long the team stays
- Space, access and power needs
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Why choose live paella in Soake?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Should I cook it myself?
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Places near Soake
What else we do in Soake
- 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