Hampshire · England
Paella party catering in Ashurst, Hampshire
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Ashurst. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Christenings and naming days
Paella party catering near Ashurst
Occasions we cook for in Ashurst
It works whatever the occasion, from a first birthday to a ruby wedding.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Ashurst and Hampshire:
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Big family gatherings
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday parties
Historic houses near Ashurst 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.
Comparing caterers
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- When final numbers are due
- Whether travel is included
Paella party catering for your party in Ashurst
Homes, gardens, clubs and hired venues all work. Typical bookings include anniversaries and engagement parties and baby celebrations, with tapas, churros and chicken and chorizo paella.
Near Ashurst, parties are frequently in gardens or fields. Let us know about access, and we’ll handle the rest. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
- Warn the neighbours
- Tell us how many children are coming
At food time, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
Sangria sets the mood, with an alcohol-free version for drivers and children.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, it’s light in Ashurst until about 9:25pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:10pm; add lights for the evening.
- It starts with your date, address, numbers and any diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- We arrive, set up in your garden or venue and start the sofrito.
- Guests gather round as it cooks, nibbling tapas if you’ve booked them.
- We serve it hot from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or SO40 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Ashurst parties: what to know
Ashurst is about 2 miles south of Totton, in Hampshire. Whether your party is in the middle of Ashurst or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in 683 places across Hampshire. We cook right across the region, from Ashurst to Southampton (about 6 miles away).
If guests are coming by rail, Ashurst New Forest station is about 0.7 miles away. Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Colbury Christ Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. The New Forest National Park is within about 4 miles of Ashurst, so many gardens around here have a great outlook. Near the coast, within about 6 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice.
Here we cover the SO40 postcode area, so your party can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Ash Grove, Cecil Avenue and Dene Road, and we can cook for a party on any of them. We also cook at parties in Colbury (1 mile east), Lyndhurst (3 miles south-west), Emery Down (4 miles south-west), Balmerlawn (5 miles south) and Brockenhurst (6 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (14 miles north-east), Eastleigh (9 miles north-east), Fareham (14 miles east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles north-east), Hedge End (9 miles east) and Lymington (10 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Ashurst Hospital (0.6 miles south-west) and National Dairy Museum (0.5 miles south-east). Open spaces near Ashurst include Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Hounsdown School (1.2 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Forest Inn (under half a mile south-east)
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course, and meat eaters frequently try it too.
Churros
Sugary churros with chocolate.
Live paella or other catering?
A buffet takes hours to prepare and leaves food sitting out. Paella is cooked fresh and served hot. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why us?
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Questions from Ashurst
What’s the nearest station to Ashurst for guests?
The closest is Ashurst New Forest station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
We are having a ceremony at Colbury Christ Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you supply crockery?
On request. Crockery or disposables can be added.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
How early should we book?
Early is best, but ask even if it is soon. Send your date and we’ll check.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
How we price paella party catering
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- The length of service
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Where the event is
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Nearby places to Ashurst
Also in Ashurst
- 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