Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Sutton Scotney
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Sutton Scotney. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Retirement celebrations
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering in Sutton Scotney
The process
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. Around midsummer it stays light in Sutton Scotney until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Read more
How our paella catering works in Sutton Scotney
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food arrives hot. That’s why it works for so many events. We are often asked to cater company summer parties and birthday celebrations, with chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and vegan paella.
In a small place like Sutton Scotney, events are normally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. You will know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Organising for someone else?
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Tell us what else is being served
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we usually call guests over.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
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.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
Perfect for your event in Sutton Scotney
There’s no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Sutton Scotney and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Ebenezer Methodist Chapel, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- How bad weather is handled
- The venue requirements
- A clear list of what’s included
What we need at the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Questions from Sutton Scotney
Is Sutton Scotney too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We are having a ceremony at Ebenezer Methodist Chapel: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
What does paella catering cost?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
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, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Does paella work for big events?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Do you cover Sutton Scotney?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Sutton Scotney and across Hampshire. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Live paella in Sutton Scotney: local details
Sutton Scotney is about 7 miles north of Winchester, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Sutton Scotney will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 16 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Micheldever station is about 3.9 miles away.
We cook at events all over SO21 and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Taylors Yard, Oxford Road and Winchester Hill or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Egypt (1 mile north-east), Hunton (1 mile east), Stoke Charity (1 mile east), Barton Stacey (2 miles north-west) and South Wonston (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (13 miles north-east), Winchester (7 miles south), Eastleigh (13 miles south), Andover (7 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (12 miles south) and Romsey (13 miles south-west).
- Nearby, you will find Coach And Horses pub (less than half a mile north-west)
Also near Sutton Scotney
More for events in Sutton Scotney
- 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