Southampton · England
Paella Party Catering for Bitterne Park events
Planning paella party catering in Bitterne Park? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
Planning an event in Bitterne Park?
Paella party catering in Bitterne Park, cooked live
Birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer get-togethers all suit live paella. The cooking is the centrepiece, and the food is served hot and generous. We’re frequently asked to cater wakes and memorial gatherings and anniversary celebrations, with mixed paella, tapas and churros.
For a party in Bitterne Park, your garden is frequently the best venue. Let us know how we can get to the garden, and we’ll bring everything else. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Bitterne Park (SO18, SO17, SO19)
- County
- Southampton
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Paella compared with other options
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you’re a guest too. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why book with us
- Events in Bitterne Park and across Southampton
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Drinks service on request
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Churros
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Party venues around Bitterne Park
Bitterne Park is about 1 mile east of Southampton, in Southampton. Wherever your party is in the SO18 area, we can cook for your guests. We cook in 40 places in Southampton.
Nearby historic houses include South Stoneham House (0.9 miles north) and Southampton Tudor House and Garden (2.2 miles south-west). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. If guests are coming by rail, Bitterne station is about 0.5 miles away. Near the coast, within about 3 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice, and we always plan for wind.
We cook at parties all over the SO18, SO17 and SO19 postcode area. That could mean a party in a garden on Neva Road, Avon Road and Bond Road. You’ll find Bitterne Park on the A3024, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Midanbury (1 mile north-east), Bitterne Manor (1 mile south-west), St Denys (1 mile west), Townhill Park (1 mile north-east) and Bitterne (1 mile south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Shirley (3 miles west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (3 miles west), Coxford (3 miles west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (3 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.8 miles south-east) and Royal South Hants Hospital (1.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Netley Common.
- Local schools include Bitterne Park Primary School (within half a mile north-west) and Bitterne Park School (under half a mile north)
- Pubs nearby include Bitterne Park Hotel (under half a mile west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Events we cater in Bitterne Park
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from toddlers to grandparents.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Bitterne Park, people book us for occasions like:
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Milestone birthdays
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of Ascension, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Before you book anyone
- What happens if it rains
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Space, access and power needs
Towns and villages near Bitterne Park
More for events in Bitterne Park
Dishes our guests love
Churros
All ages love churros.
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course, and meat eaters frequently try it too.
How it works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests usually gather round to watch while it cooks. For a late-May party in Bitterne Park, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it is about 9:25pm. If the party runs past dark, we will need light where we cook and serve.
- Send us your date, address and numbers.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We arrive before your guests and set up.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
How to get a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
What paella party catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
- The number of people
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Details that help
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of where we’d cook
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
FAQs for Bitterne Park
Which station should guests use for Bitterne Park?
Bitterne station, about 0.5 miles south-west of the centre.
Can you cook in Riverside Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Do you cover Bitterne Park?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Bitterne Park and the rest of Southampton. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Can you set up in a small garden?
Many gardens work. We need level ground, clearance and access. Send us a picture.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Have bins ready
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Warn the neighbours
Children love watching the paella cook, at a safe distance.
A jug of sangria sets the tone, with an alcohol-free version for drivers and children.
- 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