Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Totford events
Planning paella catering in Totford? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Retirement celebrations
Live paella catering in Totford
Paella catering for your event in Totford
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We cook black rice, mixed paella and vegan paella, and typical bookings are for milestone birthday parties and festivals, fairs and school events.
In a hamlet or village like Totford, 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 cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
How it works
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Evenings in Totford stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Read more
Catering an event in Totford
Totford is about 8 miles north-east of Winchester, in Hampshire. Tell us where your event in Totford will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up before the day. We cater in all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 18 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St John the Evangelist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Anywhere in SO24, we can bring paella catering to you. If your venue is just outside Totford, we also cover Northington (1 mile south-west), Brown Candover (1 mile north-east), Old Alresford (3 miles south-east), Preston Candover (3 miles north-east) and Bighton (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (10 miles north), Winchester (8 miles south-west), Eastleigh (14 miles south-west), Andover (14 miles west), Chandler's Ford (14 miles south-west) and Alton (9 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Barton Castle (3 miles east).
- Nearby, you will find The Woolpack Inn (within half a mile north-west)
Why choose paella catering in Totford?
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.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Totford:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Summer garden parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Micheldever station, about 4.5 miles north-west.
Comparing caterers
- Whether VAT is included
- What happens if it rains
- Travel and parking costs
- The deposit and payment dates
Space, weather and the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Totford
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Totford questions
What’s the nearest station to Totford for guests?
The closest is Micheldever station, roughly 4.5 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St John the Evangelist?
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 generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater in Totford?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Totford is within our area and the rest of Hampshire. To check your date, use our quote form.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
What affects the price in Totford
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- The date and time of the event
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Paella compared with other options
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Totford
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Count adults and children separately
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Nearby places to Totford
Other catering in Totford
- 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