Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Southrope, Hampshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Southrope and the surrounding area.
- Garden get-togethers
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Office lunches and staff parties
Live paella catering in Southrope
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
Paella catering in Southrope, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. On the menu are paella Valenciana, vegan paella and mixed paella, and we are frequently booked for engagement and anniversary parties and christenings and family gatherings.
In a small place like Southrope, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
Other catering in Southrope
Live paella or other catering?
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. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Southrope
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
How we price paella catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- How many staff you need
- Parking and unloading
- The paellas you choose
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- The venue or postcode
- A picture of where we’d cook
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Common questions in Southrope
How far is Southrope from London?
Roughly 46 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St. Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
What happens with live paella?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Events we cater in Southrope
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Big birthdays
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Christenings and family gatherings
For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 4.5 miles away.
What your quote should include
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The venue requirements
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
How it works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Evenings in Southrope stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or RG25 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in Southrope
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planning live paella in Southrope
Southrope is about 4 miles north-west of Alton, in Hampshire. For paella catering in Southrope, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Southrope. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Reading, about 17 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Hall Place (3.1 miles south) and Bentworth Hall (3.5 miles south). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St. Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Here we cover the RG25 postcode area. From King Johns Lane, Back Lane and Hockleys Lane or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Other places close to Southrope for paella catering include Bagmore (1 mile west), Burkham (2 miles south-west), Shalden Green (2 miles south-east), Shalden (2 miles south-east) and Bentworth (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (5 miles north-west), Winchester (15 miles south-west), Farnborough (14 miles north-east), Fleet (10 miles north-east), Aldershot (13 miles east) and Alton (4 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Gliding Heritage Centre (1.2 miles south-east) and Basing House (4.9 miles north). Not far away are Holybourne Hill.
- 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