Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in St Mary Bourne
Planning paella catering in St Mary Bourne? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Retirement celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings and evening receptions
Live paella catering in St Mary Bourne
How our paella catering works in St Mary Bourne
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. Whether it is milestone birthday parties and festivals, fairs and school events, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, black rice and paella Valenciana for your guests.
In a rural place like St Mary Bourne, the setting does plenty of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
What paella catering costs
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Your choice of paellas
- How long we’re needed on site
- Whether you need crockery
- Starters, canapés and desserts
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.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The address or venue name
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Common questions in St Mary Bourne
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like St Mary Bourne?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How many different paellas?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
How much does paella catering cost in St Mary Bourne?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Nearby places to St Mary Bourne
More for events in St Mary Bourne
Who books paella catering in St Mary Bourne?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Mary Bourne Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What your quote should include
- Allergen information for each dish
- Who provides the crockery
- The venue requirements
- When final numbers are due
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Planning an evening event in St Mary Bourne? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- 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 sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Why choose live paella in St Mary Bourne?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- A clear, itemised quote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Planning live paella in St Mary Bourne
St Mary Bourne is about 5 miles north-east of Andover, in Hampshire. Events in St Mary Bourne are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Reading, about 23 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Peter, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, Whitchurch (Hampshire) station is about 2.9 miles away.
We cook at events all over the SP11 postcode area and the streets around it. Local streets include Spring Hill Lane, Springhill and Bells Meadow; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Close by, we cover events in Binley (2 miles north), Wadwick (2 miles north-east), Hurstbourne Priors (3 miles south), Cole Henley (3 miles east) and Whitchurch (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (13 miles east), Winchester (14 miles south), Andover (5 miles south-west), Tadley (13 miles north-east), Hyde (13 miles south) and Popley (14 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Finkley Down Farm Museum (3.2 miles south-west) and Andover War Memorial Hospital (4.9 miles south-west). The countryside around St Mary Bourne includes Sidown Hill and Anton Lakes.
- Pubs nearby include Coronation Arms (under half a mile west)
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- 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