Hampshire · England
Paella party catering in Rooksdown, Hampshire
Planning paella party catering in Rooksdown? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Birthday parties
- Celebrations of life
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella party catering in Rooksdown
Paella party catering in Rooksdown, made fresh on the day
Mixed groups are easy: meat, seafood and vegetable or vegan pans side by side. A plain chicken paella keeps children happy. On the menu are mixed paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella, and we are regularly asked to cater street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers and milestone birthdays.
In a place like Rooksdown, a garden party is generally the easiest option. Tell us about access and parking, and we’ll do the rest. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Have enough chairs for most guests
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Tell us how many children are coming
At food time, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
Churros and chocolate go down well with all ages.
Towns and villages near Rooksdown
What else we do in Rooksdown
FAQs for Rooksdown
How far is Rooksdown from London?
Roughly 47 miles from the centre of London.
We’re having a ceremony at The Good Shepherd: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Can you cook indoors?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Hosting a paella party in Rooksdown
Rooksdown is about 1 mile north-west of Basingstoke, in Hampshire. We cook at parties in homes, gardens and venues in Rooksdown and the surrounding area. We cater in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 13 miles away.
After a christening at a church like The Good Shepherd, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends. Nearby historic houses include The Vyne (2.2 miles north-east). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
Wherever your party is in RG24, RG23 and RG26, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Mill Road, The Square and Hasket Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Rooksdown for paella party catering include Winklebury (1 mile south), Sherborne St John (1 mile north-east), Basingstoke (1 mile south-east), Worting (2 miles south-west) and Buckskin (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Farnborough (15 miles east), Fleet (12 miles east), Alton (11 miles south-east), Yateley (13 miles east), Tadley (5 miles north) and Hook (7 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Willis Museum (1.9 miles south-east) and Park Prewett Hospital (under half a mile south). Open spaces near Rooksdown include Farleigh Hill and Daneshill Park Woods.
- Nearby schools include Winklebury Infant School (0.8 miles south)
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
What affects the price in Rooksdown
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How many courses
- The length of service
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the space, if you can
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. A summer party in Rooksdown stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- We check your date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Get a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your party in Rooksdown, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
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Where we can cook in Rooksdown
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
The menu, dish by dish
Chicken & chorizo paella
Chicken and chorizo is a crowd-pleaser, though it isn’t traditional in Valencia.
Churros
All ages love churros.
Events we cater in Rooksdown
One big dish is simpler than lots of small ones, and there’s little waste.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Big family gatherings
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversary celebrations
If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Basingstoke station, about 1.7 miles south-east.
Before you book anyone
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How each diet is kept separate
- What happens if it rains
- What the price includes, item by item
- 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