Hampshire · England
Paella Party Catering for South Down events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in South Down and the surrounding area.
- Milestone birthdays
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
Book paella party catering in South Down
How our paella party catering works in South Down
Paella is made for relaxed parties: it is served from the pan and shared, without any fuss. Popular choices include churros, seafood paella and tapas, and typical bookings are for garden get-togethers and retirement celebrations.
In a small place like South Down, a party in the garden or a nearby field is frequently the plan. Let us know about access, and we’ll handle the rest. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll help serve and clear.
A jug of sangria sets the tone.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Send a photo of the garden so we can check
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Tapas
- Mixed paella
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Parties in South Down: gardens, venues and local tips
South Down is about 3 miles north-east of Chandler's Ford, in Hampshire. We cook at parties in gardens, halls and venues around South Down and the surrounding area. We cook in 683 places in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 7 miles away.
If guests are coming by rail, Shawford station is about 0.6 miles away.
For paella party catering in SO21, we plan around your venue and timings. That could mean a party in a garden on Cross Way, Fairfield Road and Grove Road. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Compton (1 mile north), Otterbourne (1 mile south-west), Shawford (1 mile north-east), Twyford (1 mile east) and Oliver's Battery (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Winchester (3 miles north), Eastleigh (3 miles south), Fareham (13 miles south-east), Andover (15 miles north-west), Totton (10 miles south-west) and Chandler's Ford (3 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Balfour Museum of Hampshire Red Cross History (2.9 miles north) and Wolvesey Castle (3.2 miles north). Open spaces near South Down include Twyford Down and Shawford Down.
- Nearby schools include Thornden School (1.9 miles south-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Bridge Inn (0.6 miles north-east)
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. A summer party in South Down 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 pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Live paella or other catering?
Hog roasts do not suit vegetarians and vegans. Paella covers everyone with separate pans. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why choose Love Paella in South Down
- Fast service from the pan
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Catering across Hampshire, including South Down
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels.
Chicken & chorizo paella
It’s one of the most popular pans at parties, though it is not traditional in Valencia.
Towns and villages near South Down
More for events in South Down
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
What affects the price in South Down
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
- Whether you need crockery
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Events we cater in South Down
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Christenings and naming days
- Family reunions
- Celebrations of life
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of All Saints, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before booking
- The wet-weather plan
- Allergen information for each dish
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Whether travel is included
FAQs for South Down
Is South Down too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Most gardens are fine. We need level ground, clearance and access. Send us a picture.
- 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