Isle of Wight · England
Paella Catering in Steephill
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Steephill.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Planning an event in Steephill?
About our paella catering in Steephill
There’s something generous about paella: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. For naming days and family parties and engagement and anniversary parties, we will put together a menu of mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
Somewhere like Steephill, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Area
- Steephill (PO38)
- Region
- Isle of Wight
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Around midsummer it stays light in Steephill until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
How to get a price
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Steephill, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Planning help
Places near Steephill
More for events in Steephill
Paella catering around Steephill
Steephill is about 3 miles south-west of Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight. For paella catering in Steephill, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Steephill. Steephill is one of 125 places in the Isle of Wight where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 24 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Francis Catholic and Church of England Primary Academy, can book us as a food stall. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St. Alban-the-martyr, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The coast is within about 2 miles of Steephill, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Wherever your event is in PO38, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on Love Lane, Steephill Road and Castle Court or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Steephill is on the A3055, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Ventnor (1 mile north-east), St Lawrence (1 mile west), Nettlecombe (2 miles north-west), Wroxall (2 miles north) and Bonchurch (2 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Newport (8 miles north-west), Ryde (10 miles north), Cowes (12 miles north), Sandown (5 miles north-east), Shanklin (3 miles north-east) and East Cowes (12 miles north). If your event is somewhere remote, tell us early so we can plan the journey.
Other landmarks nearby include Longshoremans Museum (0.6 miles east) and Arthur Webster Memorial Hospital for Children (3.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Steephill includes St Boniface Down.
- Nearby schools include The Island Free School (0.7 miles north) and St Catherine's School (0.8 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Rose Inn (0.8 miles east)
- Local facilities include South Wight (1.2 miles north-east)
What paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many staff you need
- Whether you need crockery
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
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Where the event is
- Expected numbers
- Anything your venue supplies
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
For planners, venues and organisers
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Mention any other courses or food
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Live paella or other catering?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
See How we price And The cost guide.
Common questions in Steephill
Can you cook near the sea around Steephill?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What’s the nearest station to Steephill for guests?
The closest is Shanklin station, roughly 3.5 miles away.
What about pudding?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it is cooked separately.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is generally the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Events we cater in Steephill
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Steephill and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Family celebrations and christenings
Historic houses near Steephill include Rylstone Manor (3.2 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Questions to ask before booking
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Steephill is a more remote spot, so tell us early and we’ll plan the journey.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo 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