Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in South Harting, Hampshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in South Harting and across Hampshire.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering for South Harting events
How we price paella catering
The price comes down to a few factors:
- The number of people
- Parking and unloading
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
To speed things up, tell us:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The venue or postcode
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Diets and allergies you know about
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote.
About our paella catering in South Harting
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. For retirement celebrations and garden parties and summer barbecues, we can cook vegan paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella and more.
For a rural spot like South Harting, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Who books paella catering in South Harting?
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in South Harting book us for occasions like:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Nearby historic houses include Uppark (1.2 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Comparing caterers
- If the price includes VAT
- When payment is due
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Paella catering around South Harting
South Harting is about 3 miles south-east of Petersfield, in Hampshire. Give us the address of your event in South Harting, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cover 683 places across Hampshire. Our events stretch from South Harting to Guildford (about 23 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Petersfield station is about 3.7 miles away. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Harting CofE Primary School, can book us as a food stall. South Harting is within about a mile of the South Downs National Park, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cater events across GU31 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on The Square, Smithfield and Mill Lane or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to South Harting for paella catering include East Harting (1 mile east), Nyewood (2 miles north-east), Elsted (2 miles east), Compton (3 miles south) and Dumpford (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Havant (9 miles south-west), Horndean (7 miles south-west), Alton (13 miles north), Waterlooville (9 miles south-west), Petersfield (3 miles north-west) and Purbrook (10 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Bear Museum (3.3 miles north-west) and Petersfield Community Hospital (3.6 miles north-west). Not far away are Iping and Stedham Commons and Oakham Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Ship Inn (less than half a mile west)
How the day works
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Around midsummer it stays light in South Harting until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us when you want to eat
Get a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to South Harting
What else we do in South Harting
Organising for someone else?
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Is live paella right for your event?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why South Harting hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Drinks service on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- No hidden extras in your quote
South Harting questions
How far is South Harting from London?
About 50 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
- 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