Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Wigley, Hampshire
Planning paella catering in Wigley? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Birthday celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering near Wigley
Paella catering for your event in Wigley
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. On the menu are black rice, paella Valenciana and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for anniversaries and engagement parties and office lunches and staff parties.
Somewhere like Wigley, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Common questions in Wigley
Which station should guests use for Wigley?
The closest is Totton station, roughly 3.4 miles away.
Is Wigley too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
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.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
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. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Wigley
- A clear, itemised quote
- We cover Wigley and the whole of Hampshire
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Diets, allergies and planning
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Count adults and children separately
- Put allergy details in writing
- Request clear labels at the serving table
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
How it works
Here’s how the day usually runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Wigley until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Read more
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Also near Wigley
More for events in Wigley
Live paella in Wigley: local details
Wigley is about 3 miles north-west of Totton, in Hampshire. For paella catering in Wigley, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover 683 places across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 7 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Totton station is about 3.4 miles away. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Embley, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Wigley is within about 6 miles of the New Forest National Park. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Hampshire takes in SO51. For events just outside Wigley, we cover Ower (1 mile south), Hillstreet (1 mile south-east), East Wellow (2 miles north-west), Blackhill (2 miles north-west) and Copythorne (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (12 miles north-east), Eastleigh (8 miles east), Totton (3 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (7 miles east), Hedge End (11 miles east) and Lymington (13 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Romsey Extra (2.4 miles north-east) and Tatchbury Mount Hospital (1.5 miles south). Open spaces near Wigley include Copythorne Common.
Perfect for your event in Wigley
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Wigley, people book us for events such as:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Company summer parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Nearby historic houses include Landford Manor (4.4 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Questions to ask before you book
- What happens if it rains
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The venue requirements
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
- Your choice of paellas
- The length of service
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with 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.
- 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