Hampshire · England
Live paella catering in Worthy Down, Hampshire
Planning paella catering in Worthy Down? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering near Worthy Down
Working with your venue
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
How our paella catering works in Worthy Down
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. Once it’s ready, we serve it hot from the pan. Typical bookings include birthday celebrations and office lunches and staff parties, serving seafood paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Somewhere like Worthy Down, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Worthy Down: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Worthy Down?
Winchester station, about 3.2 miles south of the centre.
Do you come out to small places like Worthy Down?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Do you come to Worthy Down?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Worthy Down is within our area. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much does paella catering cost in Worthy Down?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Live paella or other catering?
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Worthy Down. 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.
Why book with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A quote that spells everything out
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Fast service from the pan
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Travel, parking and access
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Anything your venue supplies
- Where the event is
- A picture of where we’d cook
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
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.
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Worthy Down 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 the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Nearby places to Worthy Down
What else we do in Worthy Down
Planning live paella in Worthy Down
Worthy Down is about 4 miles north of Winchester, in Hampshire. From the centre of Worthy Down to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 14 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Margaret's, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Winchester station, about 3.2 miles south.
We cover events in every part of the SO21 postcode area. Whether your event is on Coopers Close, Coate Drive and Wellesley Drive or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Worthy Down, we also cover South Wonston (1 mile north), Springvale (2 miles south-east), Crawley (3 miles west), Sutton Scotney (3 miles north) and Stoke Charity (3 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Basingstoke (15 miles north-east), Winchester (4 miles south), Eastleigh (10 miles south), Andover (9 miles north-west), Totton (15 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (9 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal Hampshire County Hospital (3.5 miles south) and Royal Observer Corps Museum (2.7 miles south-east). Not far away are Winnall Moors.
- Local schools include Henry Beaufort School (2.2 miles south)
Why choose paella catering in Worthy Down?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever you are celebrating in Worthy Down, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Milestone birthday parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as South Wonston Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
What to look for in a quote
- How bad weather is handled
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- 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