Hampshire · England
Paella Party Catering for Ashurst Bridge events
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Ashurst Bridge: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
Live paella party catering in Ashurst Bridge
Planning a party in Ashurst Bridge
Ashurst Bridge is about 1 mile south-west of Totton, in Hampshire. Whether your party is in the middle of Ashurst Bridge or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of St Matthew, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Totton station, about 1.5 miles east. Ashurst Bridge is within about 4 miles of the New Forest National Park, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop. The coast is within about 6 miles, so seafood paella often features, and we always plan for wind.
Anywhere in SO40, we can bring paella party catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We also cook at parties in Netley Marsh (1 mile north-west), Totton (1 mile north-east), Hounsdown (1 mile south-east), Woodlands (1 mile south-west) and Winsor (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Winchester (13 miles north-east), Eastleigh (8 miles north-east), Fareham (14 miles east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles north-east), Hedge End (9 miles east) and Lymington (11 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Ashurst Hospital (1.4 miles south) and National Dairy Museum (1.2 miles south). The countryside around Ashurst Bridge includes Testwood Lakes.
- Schools near Ashurst Bridge include Hounsdown School (1.1 miles south-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The White Horse pub (0.7 miles north-west)
Paella party catering in Ashurst Bridge, made fresh on the day
Most gardens can host a paella party, if there is a level spot away from fences and trees. Not sure? Send a picture. Popular choices include tapas, churros and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for retirement and leaving parties and family get-togethers.
Near Ashurst Bridge, parties are frequently in gardens or fields. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we will plan the set-up. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Count adults and children separately
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Warn the neighbours
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
We’re set up before guests arrive, so the cooking is under way as people arrive.
Sangria sets the mood.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Unlike a barbecue, paella is ready at once, so nobody waits for the next batch. And there’s no host stuck at the grill. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
More for events in Ashurst Bridge
For event organisers in Ashurst Bridge
If you are organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Where the event is
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of where we’d cook
Send us the date, your venue or SO40 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Perfect for your party in Ashurst Bridge
Any occasion works, from christenings to retirements.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Ashurst Bridge and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Celebrations of life
- Anniversary celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
Nearby historic houses include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (4.8 miles east) and Medieval Merchant's House (4.9 miles east). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler.
Before you book anyone
- How late numbers can change
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- The venue requirements
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over. A summer party in Ashurst Bridge stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:10pm; add lights for the evening.
- 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Questions from Ashurst Bridge
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Matthew?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What do you need at the venue?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
- 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