Hampshire · England
Paella party catering in The Frenches, Hampshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in The Frenches.
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Big family gatherings
- Retirement celebrations
Book paella party catering in The Frenches
Paella party catering in The Frenches, made fresh on the day
Add tapas to start, churros for afters and a jug of sangria, and the party menu is complete. We’re often asked to cater birthday parties and street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers, with churros, mixed paella and tapas.
Country parties near The Frenches suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Why choose live paella in The Frenches?
If you want special but not formal, live paella is hard to beat. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
The Frenches parties: what to know
The Frenches is about 3 miles west of Romsey, in Hampshire. Anywhere in SO51, we can bring the pans to you. The Frenches is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 9 miles away.
If your garden is too small, local venues and clubs near The Frenches can be an alternative, as long as there’s outdoor space to cook. If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, about 2.5 miles north.
Anywhere in SO51, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Close by, we cover parties in Shootash (1 mile east), Plaitford Green (2 miles west), West Wellow (2 miles south-west), East Wellow (2 miles south) and Blackhill (3 miles south). Larger places within reach include Winchester (11 miles east), Eastleigh (10 miles east), Andover (15 miles north), Totton (6 miles south-east), Chandler's Ford (8 miles east) and Hedge End (13 miles south-east).
A little further out are Romsey Community Hospital (3.4 miles east) and Romsey Extra (3 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Copythorne Common.
The Frenches: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for The Frenches?
The closest is Mottisfont & Dunbridge station, roughly 2.5 miles away.
Do you come out to small places like The Frenches?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
When should I book?
Early is best, but ask even if it’s soon. We’ll check availability straight away.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including The Frenches.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Send a photo of the garden so we can check
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Tapas
- Churros
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Seafood paella typically gets the photos, and is best served with lemon.
Vegetable paella
A proper vegetable paella, not an afterthought, with peppers, beans and artichokes.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
For event organisers in The Frenches
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Towns and villages near The Frenches
Other catering in The Frenches
Who books paella party catering in The Frenches?
It is the easiest way to feed a party without being stuck in the kitchen, and guests love it.
In The Frenches and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Milestone birthdays
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
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.
Comparing caterers
- Travel and parking costs
- How late numbers can change
- How bad weather is handled
- Exactly what’s included in the price
The process
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. For a late-May party in The Frenches, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it’s about 9:25pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- You tell us the date, address, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- On the day, we set up and get cooking.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It is served from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
What paella party catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Travel, parking and access
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- What the venue already provides
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
- 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