Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in St Leonards, Hampshire
Looking for paella catering in St Leonards? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement celebrations
Live paella catering in St Leonards
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Paella catering in St Leonards, cooked live
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. Whether it is retirement and leaving parties and garden parties and summer barbecues, we can cook vegan paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella for your guests.
In and around St Leonards, gardens and local halls are common choices. If access is tight, we will plan around it. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
The process
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Around midsummer it stays light in St Leonards until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:05pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Before we arrive
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Common questions in St Leonards
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 All Saints?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Planning live paella in St Leonards
St Leonards is in Hampshire. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around St Leonards and the surrounding area. St Leonards is one of 683 places in Hampshire where we cook. Our events stretch from St Leonards to Southampton (21 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Avon Heath Country Park? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. The New Forest National Park is within about 7 miles of St Leonards, 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.
Anywhere in BH24, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Cedar Avenue, Birch Close and Malmesbury Road. Other places close to St Leonards for paella catering include Ashley Heath (1 mile north), St Ives (1 mile north-east), Matchams (1 mile south-east) and Avon Castle (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Lymington (14 miles east), New Milton (10 miles south-east), Ringwood (3 miles north-east), Barton on Sea (10 miles south-east), Ashley (10 miles south-east) and Milford on Sea (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are St Leonard's Hospital (0.9 miles south-west) and Stapehill Abbey (3.9 miles south-west). Not far away are Linbrook Lake and Blashford Lakes.
Is live paella right for your event?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and usually costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why book with us
- Catering across Hampshire, including St Leonards
- Drinks service on request
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Occasions we cook for in St Leonards
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Ives Primary & Nursery School, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- The deposit and payment dates
- How long the team stays
- Allergen information for each dish
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Nearby places to St Leonards
What else we do in St Leonards
What paella catering costs
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
- Your choice of paellas
- Parking and unloading
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
- 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