Southampton · England
Paella Party Catering in Eling
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Eling. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Summer garden parties
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella party catering near Eling
Paella party catering in Eling, made fresh on the day
A paella party takes the cooking off your hands without turning the day into a formal dinner. We set up in the garden or venue and cook as your guests chat. Whether it’s baby celebrations and anniversaries and engagement parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegetable paella, mixed paella and churros.
In a place like Eling, a garden party is usually the easiest option. Tell us about access and parking, and we’ll bring everything else. We serve straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
- Where
- Eling (SO40, SO15)
- County
- Southampton
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Catering for every guest
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Count adults and children separately
- Let the neighbours know
- Have enough chairs for most guests
After service, we pack down, so the party carries on.
Add bread, salad and lemon.
Hosting a paella party in Eling
Eling is about 1 mile south-east of Totton, in Southampton. We bring paella party catering to gardens, halls and venues around Eling. Eling is one of 40 places in Southampton we cover.
Historic houses near Eling include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (3.6 miles east) and Medieval Merchant's House (3.6 miles east). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of St Mary, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. Eling is within about 5 miles of the New Forest National Park, so many gardens around here have a great outlook. Near the coast, within about 4 miles, seafood paella is a natural choice, with shelter from the breeze planned in.
Paella party catering in SO40 and SO15 is planned around your venue. Whether your party is on Bury Lane, Rose Road and Mill Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. You’ll find Eling on the A35, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For parties just outside Eling, we cover Redbridge (1 mile north-east), Millbrook (2 miles east), Hillyfields (2 miles north-east), Maybush (2 miles north-east) and Regents Park (2 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Southampton (4 miles east), Townhill Park (6 miles east), Midanbury (5 miles east), Thornhill (6 miles east), Chartwell Green (6 miles east) and Harefield (6 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Eling Experience (0.6 miles north) and Westquay (3.5 miles east). Not far away are Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Hounsdown School (0.6 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Anchor pub (less than half a mile east)
Where we can cook in Eling
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Send a photo of the garden so we can check
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
On the menu in Eling
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Step by step
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 while it cooks. At midsummer, it is light in Eling until about 9:25pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. In late September it’s dark by about 7:10pm; add lights for the evening.
- We check your date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- We set up the burners and start the sofrito.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Let us know the timings for the day
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
Eling: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Eling?
Totton station, in Eling itself.
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
What happens if it rains?
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.
What does paella party catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Do you bring plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what you need and we’ll include it in the quote.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Can you do a kids’ option?
Of course. Children generally love a plain chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Organising for someone else?
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Places near Eling
What else we do in Eling
Occasions we cook for in Eling
It brings a bit of holiday feeling to a garden party.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Eling and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Big birthdays
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Family get-togethers
If guests are coming by rail, Totton station is in Eling itself.
Questions to ask before booking
- If the price includes VAT
- How late numbers can change
- Whether travel is included
- What the price includes, item by item
Is live paella right for your party?
Unlike a barbecue, paella is ready at once, so everyone eats together. And nobody is stuck at the grill. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in Eling
- A quote that spells everything out
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- We cover Eling and the whole of Southampton
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
How we price paella party catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
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
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Expected numbers
- The date and rough timings
- Where the event is
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
- 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