Hampshire · England
Paella Catering in Tiptoe
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Tiptoe and the surrounding area.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering in Tiptoe
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The length of service
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Where the event is
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
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.
How our paella catering works in Tiptoe
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there’s very little waste, and the food arrives hot. That is why it works for so many events. For wedding breakfasts and evening food and milestone birthday parties, we can cook paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella and more.
In a rural place like Tiptoe, the setting does a lot of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Catering an event in Tiptoe
Tiptoe is about 4 miles north-west of Lymington, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Tiptoe will be, and we will plan access and set-up. Tiptoe is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Tiptoe to Southampton (about 14 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Sway station is about 1 mile away. Nearby historic houses include Highcliffe Castle (4.6 miles south-west) and Avon Tyrrell House (5 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. Tiptoe is within about 4 miles of the New Forest National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. Tiptoe is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
Here we cover the SO41 postcode area. Local streets include Middle Road, Crabbswood Lane and Wootton Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Mead End (1 mile north), Sway (1 mile north-east), Bashley (1 mile west), Ashley (1 mile south-west) and Hordle (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Totton (11 miles north-east), Lymington (4 miles south-east), Hythe (12 miles north-east), Ringwood (8 miles north-west), Barton on Sea (3 miles south-west) and Dibden Purlieu (11 miles north-east).
A little further out are Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (2.1 miles south-west) and Highcliffe Castle (4.6 miles south-west). Not far away are Milford on Sea LNR.
- Nearby schools include The Arnewood School (2.4 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Plough Public House (0.5 miles south-west)
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it’s still served fresh. Planning an evening event in Tiptoe? 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.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
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
Why live cooking beats a buffet
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Tiptoe hosts choose us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Other catering in Tiptoe
Your questions about paella catering in Tiptoe
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
We are having a ceremony at St Andrew: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Can you feed a lot of people?
It’s ideal. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Occasions we cook for in Tiptoe
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.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Tiptoe and Hampshire:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Big birthdays
- Anniversary celebrations
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Tiptoe Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- The deadline for final numbers
- 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