Hampshire · England
Paella party catering in Ampfield, Hampshire
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Ampfield and the surrounding area.
- Retirement celebrations
- Celebrations of life
- Street and neighbourhood parties
Paella party catering near Ampfield
How our paella party catering works in Ampfield
It is easy to cater for a mix of guests: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood pan and a vegetable or vegan pan side by side. A plain chicken paella keeps children happy. We’re frequently asked to cater anniversary celebrations and birthday parties, serving mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella.
Country parties near Ampfield suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. Everything is cooked from scratch at your party, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Count adults and children separately
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
- Have bins ready
Booked staff help serve and clear.
Churros with chocolate are a hit with children and adults.
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. At midsummer, it is light in Ampfield until about 9:25pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve from the pan and pack down.
How to prepare
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Tell us when you want to eat
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
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Occasions we cook for in Ampfield
It’s generous and sociable, ideal when people want to mingle.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Big family gatherings
- Birthday parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Celebrations of life
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chandlers Ford station, about 2.5 miles south-east.
Before booking anyone
- The wet-weather plan
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- The venue requirements
- Whether VAT is included
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course, and meat eaters often try it too.
Tapas
Patatas bravas, tortilla, croquetas and olives while the paella cooks.
Ampfield: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mark?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How far is Ampfield from London?
Roughly 67 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Do you come to Ampfield?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Ampfield. To check your date, use our quote form.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you do sangria?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Organising for someone else?
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planning a party in Ampfield
Ampfield is about 2 miles north-west of Chandler's Ford, in Hampshire. Anywhere in SO51, we can cook for your guests. We cook in all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 6 miles away.
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St Mark, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Paella party catering in SO51 is planned around your venue and your guests. We can cater a party on streets such as Morleys Green, Green Pond Lane and Lower Farm Lane. Being close to the A3090, Ampfield is simple for us to get to for your party. Nearby, we also cater parties in Gosport (1 mile south-west), Knapp (1 mile north-east), Broadgate (1 mile east), Crampmoor (1 mile west) and Lower Slackstead (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (6 miles north-east), Eastleigh (5 miles south-east), Fareham (15 miles south-east), Andover (14 miles north), Totton (7 miles south-west) and Hedge End (8 miles south-east).
A little further out are King Johns House (3.3 miles west) and Romsey Community Hospital (2.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Emer Bog and Baddesley Common.
- Nearby schools include The Mountbatten School (2.4 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include White Horse Public House (within half a mile south-west)
Live paella or other catering?
Compared with a barbecue, paella is served all at once, so nobody waits for the next batch. And nobody is stuck at the grill. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why Ampfield hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- No hidden extras in your quote
Also near Ampfield
More for events in Ampfield
- 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