Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Sprat's Down events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Sprat's Down: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Company summer parties
Paella catering near Sprat's Down
Paella catering in Sprat's Down, made fresh on the day
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately. We are frequently asked to cater milestone birthday parties and family celebrations and christenings, with paella Valenciana, black rice and seafood paella.
In a small place like Sprat's Down, 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 cooking close to where we can park helps. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Why choose paella catering in Sprat's Down?
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
In Sprat's Down and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Naming days and family parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hamble station, about 4 miles north.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deposit and payment dates
- Who provides the crockery
- A clear list of what’s included
- Staff numbers and hours
Other catering in Sprat's Down
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Sprat's Down until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
What affects the price in Sprat's Down
Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:
- How many courses
- The length of service
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many guests are eating
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The address or venue name
- The courses you’d like
- What the venue already provides
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Sprat's Down, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning the cooking area
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you. What matters most:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Planning live paella in Sprat's Down
Sprat's Down is about 4 miles north of Cowes, in Hampshire. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Sprat's Down and the surrounding area. Sprat's Down is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 8 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Fawley Infant School, can book us as a food stall. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St George, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Sprat's Down is within about 5 miles of the New Forest 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. The coast is within about 4 miles of Sprat's Down, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
Anywhere in SO45, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Other places close to Sprat's Down for paella catering include Calshot (1 mile east), Stonehills (1 mile north), Stanswood (1 mile south), Hillhead (1 mile east) and Ashlett (1 mile north). Within a short drive, we also cover Gosport (8 miles east), Eastleigh (11 miles north), Fareham (7 miles north-east), Totton (10 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (12 miles north) and Hedge End (7 miles north).
A little further out are Calshot Castle (1.6 miles east) and Sir Max Aitken Museum (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Sprat's Down includes Mercury Marshes and Mill Hill.
- Local pubs include Falcon Hotel (1 mile north)
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
FAQs for Sprat's Down
Can you cater a reception after a service at St George?
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. Tell us where the reception will be.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Hampshire. See all areas.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
Do you cover Sprat's Down?
Yes, we do. Sprat's Down is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is generally the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
For planners, venues and organisers
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Is live paella right for your event?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Mention any other courses or food
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
- 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