Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Woodlands, Hampshire
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Woodlands and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering in Woodlands
How our paella catering works in Woodlands
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. That is why it works for so many events. We cook black rice, paella Valenciana and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for christenings and family gatherings and engagement and anniversary parties.
For a rural spot like Woodlands, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Woodlands questions
Can you cook at venues in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Which station should guests use for Woodlands?
Ashurst New Forest station, about 0.9 miles south-east of the centre.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Can you cook halal paella?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
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.
Do you cover Woodlands?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Woodlands and across Hampshire. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Are premium seafood options available?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Events we cater in Woodlands
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Woodlands, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden get-togethers
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Netley Marsh Church of England Infant School, can book us as a food stall.
Questions to ask before you book
- When final numbers are due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Staff numbers and hours
- Payment terms and deposit
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How long we are needed on site
- Distance and access to the venue
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you are free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. In Woodlands, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, 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.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s often the most popular pan at an event.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Should I cook it 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.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Woodlands. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Places near Woodlands
More for events in Woodlands
Planning live paella in Woodlands
Woodlands is about 2 miles south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. Across the SO40 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover all 683 towns and villages across Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 6 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ashurst New Forest station, about 0.9 miles south-east. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Bartley Village Hall, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The New Forest National Park is within about 3 miles of Woodlands. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across SO40. That could mean an event in a garden on Alpine Road, The Crescent and Hazel Grove or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside Woodlands, we also cover Netley Marsh (1 mile north), Ashurst Bridge (1 mile north-east), Bartley (1 mile north-west), Hounsdown (2 miles east) and Winsor (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (15 miles north-east), Eastleigh (10 miles north-east), Fareham (15 miles east), Chandler's Ford (9 miles north-east), Hedge End (10 miles east) and Lymington (10 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include National Dairy Museum (1.5 miles east) and Ashurst Hospital (0.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Woodlands includes Copythorne Common.
- Schools near Woodlands include Hounsdown School (2 miles east)
- Local pubs include The New Forest pub (0.8 miles south-east)
- 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