Southampton · England
Paella party catering in Shirley, Southampton
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Shirley. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Christenings and naming days
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Summer garden parties
Book paella party catering in Shirley
How our paella party catering works in Shirley
The smell of paella cooking is the best party invitation. People drift over with a drink to watch it cook. For leaving dos and retirements and celebrations of life, we can cook churros, vegetable paella and tapas for your guests.
Around Shirley, a garden and a gazebo is all you need. Live paella fits right in. Everything is cooked from scratch at your party, not reheated.
- Where
- Shirley (SO15, SO16, SO17)
- County
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your party. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. For a late-May party in Shirley, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it’s about 9:25pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
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.
Read more
What affects the price in Shirley
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
- Waiting and bar staff
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- What the venue already provides
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
Send us the date, your venue or SO15 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Send a photo of the garden so we can check
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
FAQs for Shirley
We are having a ceremony at Shirley Parish Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What does paella party catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Do you cook at halls and clubs?
Yes, if there’s a suitable outdoor or ventilated spot to cook. Check the venue allows live cooking.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Will the neighbours notice?
Gas cooking means steam and a good smell, not much smoke. The smell is normally the best advert for the party.
Places near Shirley
Also in Shirley
Paella compared with other options
Compared with a barbecue, paella is served all at once, so nobody waits for the next batch. And nobody is stuck at the grill. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- We cover Shirley and the whole of Southampton
See How we price Or The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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.
About the dishes
Chicken & chorizo paella
It’s one of the most popular pans at parties.
Churros
All ages love churros.
Party venues around Shirley
Shirley is about 2 miles west of Southampton, in Southampton. Across the SO15 area, we can cook for your guests. We cook in 40 places across Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
Parks such as St James' Park generally need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Shirley Parish Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. Shirley is within about 8 miles of the New Forest National Park, so many gardens around here have a great outlook. The coast is within about 3 miles, so seafood paella frequently features, and we always plan for wind.
This part of Southampton takes in SO15, SO16 and SO17, and we can cater your party anywhere in it. We can cater a party on streets such as May Road, Dyer Road and York Road or the roads around them. Main roads around Shirley include the A3057, which makes travel to your party easy. If your venue is just outside Shirley, we also cover Regents Park (1 mile west), Freemantle (1 mile south), Millbrook (1 mile south-west), Coxford (1 mile north-west) and Maybush (1 mile north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Townhill Park (3 miles east), Midanbury (3 miles east), Thornhill (4 miles east), Chartwell Green (4 miles east), Harefield (4 miles east) and Itchen (3 miles south-east). Being one of Southampton’s larger places, Shirley has plenty of venues and gardens for parties.
A little further out are Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (1 mile south-east). Open spaces near Shirley include Testwood Lakes.
- Nearby schools include Regents Park Community College (within half a mile west) and Millbrook Community School (1.3 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Crown Public House (under half a mile north-west)
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Count adults and children separately
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Plan seats for most guests
When you’re ready to eat, we serve straight from the pan.
Add bread, salad and lemon.
Occasions we cook for in Shirley
Any occasion works, from a first birthday to a ruby wedding.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Family reunions
- Birthday parties
- Celebrations of life
Historic houses near Shirley include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (1.9 miles south-east) and Medieval Merchant's House (2 miles south-east). Grand settings like these frequently have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- VAT, if it applies
- When final numbers are due
- When payment is due
- 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