Southampton · England
Paella party catering in Portswood, Southampton
Bring the theatre of live paella to your party in Portswood. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
Book paella party catering in Portswood
The menu, dish by dish
Chicken & chorizo paella
It’s one of the most popular pans at parties.
Tapas
Tapas keep guests going while they watch the pans.
Paella party catering for your party in Portswood
Live paella suits birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer parties. The cooking is the centrepiece, and the food is served hot and generous. Whether it is retirement and leaving parties and wakes and celebrations of life, we’ll put together a menu of churros, vegetable paella and mixed paella for your guests.
In a place like Portswood, a garden party is normally the easiest option. Tell us about access and parking, and we will do the rest. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Where
- Portswood (SO17, SO14, SO18)
- County
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Occasions we cook for in Portswood
It feeds a crowd without anyone stuck in the kitchen, and guests love it.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Portswood, people book us for occasions like:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Wakes and celebrations of life
Thinking of a party in Southampton Common? Cooking in a public park normally needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first.
What your quote should include
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- A clear list of what’s included
- How long the team stays
- VAT, if it applies
Parties in Portswood: gardens, venues and local tips
Portswood is about 1 mile north of Southampton, in Southampton. For paella party catering in Portswood, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in 40 places in Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Highfield Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. If guests are coming by rail, Portswood has its own station, St Denys station. Portswood is within about 8 miles of the New Forest National Park, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop. The coast is within about 2 miles, so seafood paella frequently features.
We cover parties in every part of SO17, SO14 and SO18 and the streets around it. We can cater a party on streets such as Ivy Road, Alma Road and Lawn Road. Portswood sits on or near the A335 and A3035, so getting the burners and pans to your party is simple. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include St Denys (1 mile south-east), Southampton (1 mile south), Inner Avenue (1 mile south-west), Bitterne Manor (1 mile south-east) and Bitterne Park (1 mile east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Thornhill (3 miles south-east), Maybush (3 miles west), Eling (4 miles west), Rownhams (3 miles north-west), Millbrook (3 miles west) and Weston (3 miles south).
A little further out are Marlands Shopping Centre (1.5 miles south) and Royal South Hants Hospital (0.9 miles south). Not far away are Netley Common.
- Local schools include St Anne's Catholic School (1 mile south-west) and St Mary's Independent School (1.2 miles east)
- Nearby, you will find South Western Arms (within half a mile south-east)
Questions from Portswood
Can you cook near the sea around Portswood?
Yes, as long as we can shelter from the wind. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Which station should guests use for Portswood?
Portswood has its own station: St Denys station.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
What happens on the day
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. At midsummer, it’s light in Portswood until about 9:25pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat.
- We serve, then clear our area.
Before we arrive
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your party in Portswood, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Read more
What affects the price in Portswood
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- The paellas you choose
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Thinking about paella party catering for your party in Portswood? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
A buffet takes hours to prepare and leaves food sitting out. Paella is cooked fresh and served hot. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Portswood
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Drinks service on request
- Catering across Southampton, including Portswood
Take a look at Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Count adults and children separately
- Have bins ready
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll help serve and clear so you can relax.
Tapas and nibbles while the paella cooks keep hunger at bay.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Nearby places to Portswood
What else we do in Portswood
- 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