Hampshire · England
Paella Catering for Waterlooville events
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Waterlooville and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Milestone birthday parties
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering in Waterlooville
How our paella catering works in Waterlooville
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. We are often asked to cater fairs, fêtes and festivals and office lunches and staff parties, serving vegan paella, paella Valenciana and seafood paella.
There are lots of options in a town like Waterlooville: your own garden, a club or hall with outside space, or a venue nearby. We will agree the cooking spot beforehand. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Waterlooville
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
Live paella in Waterlooville: local details
Waterlooville is about 6 miles north of Portsmouth, in Hampshire. For an event in Waterlooville, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Waterlooville. We cook in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Waterlooville to Southampton (about 16 miles away).
Historic houses near Waterlooville include Warblington Castle (4 miles south-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Saint George's, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
For paella catering in PO7 and PO8, we plan around your venue. From London Road, Chillingham Square and Aysgarth Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. For events just outside Waterlooville, we cover Hart Plain (1 mile north), Purbrook (1 mile south), Cowplain (1 mile north), Soake (1 mile north-west) and Purbrook Heath (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in Gosport (8 miles south-west), Eastleigh (15 miles north-west), Fareham (7 miles west), Hedge End (12 miles west), Petersfield (9 miles north-east) and Locks Heath (10 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find Queen Alexandra Hospital (2.7 miles south-west) and Havant Museum (3.3 miles south-east). The countryside around Waterlooville includes Portsdown Hill and Southmoor Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Cowplain Community School (0.7 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Denmead Queen pub (under half a mile south-east)
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Larger events usually cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Waterlooville hosts choose us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover Waterlooville and the whole of Hampshire
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Send allergies to us in writing
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Occasions we cook for in Waterlooville
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Whatever you are celebrating in Waterlooville, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Hart Plain Junior School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before booking anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- The deposit and payment dates
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- A clear list of what’s included
Also near Waterlooville
More for events in Waterlooville
Common questions in Waterlooville
Which station should guests use for Waterlooville?
Bedhampton station, about 2.6 miles south-east of the centre.
How far is Waterlooville from London?
Roughly 59 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Do you cater in Waterlooville?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Waterlooville. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s usually the most photographed pan.
How the day works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. In Waterlooville, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Working with your venue
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
- 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