Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Thedden
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Thedden: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Naming days and family parties
- Birthday celebrations
Planning an event in Thedden?
Dietary needs and planning tips
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Confirm allergies by email
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Paella catering for your event in Thedden
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. Whether it’s retirement celebrations and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, paella Valenciana and black rice for your guests.
In a hamlet or village like Thedden, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Who books paella catering in Thedden?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Thedden and Hampshire:
- Big birthdays
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Naming days and family parties
For guests coming by train, Alton station is about 2.6 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- Allergen information for each dish
- The wet-weather plan
- If the price includes VAT
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Before you choose a spot
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
More for events in Thedden
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Thedden
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
How it works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evenings in Thedden stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
Planning live paella in Thedden
Thedden is about 2 miles west of Alton, in Hampshire. For an event in Thedden, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 21 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Peter's, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Historic houses near Thedden include Bentworth Hall (1 mile west) and Hall Place (1.3 miles north-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Here we cover the GU34 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Nearby, we also cater events in Beech (1 mile south-east), Wivelrod (1 mile south-west), Bentworth (1 mile north-west), Holt End (1 mile west) and New Copse (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (9 miles north), Winchester (14 miles south-west), Farnborough (15 miles north-east), Fleet (12 miles north-east), Aldershot (13 miles north-east) and Petersfield (10 miles south).
A little further out are Alton Community Hospital (1.6 miles east) and Barton Castle (3.9 miles west). Open spaces near Thedden include King's Hill.
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Your questions about paella catering in Thedden
Which station should guests use for Thedden?
Alton station, about 2.6 miles east of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Thedden?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we will plan for them.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
- 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