Southampton · England
Paella catering in SO15
We cook at events in every part of the SO15 postcode district, including Shirley, Regents Park and Freemantle. The paella is cooked fresh in front of your guests.
Paella catering in SO15
Areas within SO15
- Shirley
- Regents Park
- Freemantle
- Millbrook
- Southampton
- Maybush
- Coxford
- Inner Avenue
- Lordswood
- St Mary's
- Eling
- Bassett
- Redbridge
What we do in SO15
- Tapas & canapé catering
- Corporate paella catering
- Wedding paella catering
- Festival & event paella
- Live paella catering
- Paella party catering
- All catering
Tell us your date, numbers and venue and we’ll reply with a menu and a price: send us your details through our quote form.
Neighbouring districts
Across Southampton
Every town in Southampton
All areas
Our paella catering in SO15
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields in and around SO15. On the menu are chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for garden parties and summer barbecues and anniversary celebrations.
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Cost
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why hosts in SO15 choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
What’s near Shirley
Locally, our events take us close to Millbrook Community School, St James' Park and Shirley Parish Church, among other places. Other local landmarks include Regents Park Community College (less than half a mile west), The Crown Public House (under half a mile north-west) and Wordsworth Primary School (under half a mile north). The nearest railway station is Millbrook (Hants) station, roughly 0.7 miles south. Nearby you will also find Netley Castle (4.4 miles south-east) and Foresters Museum & Archive (1 mile south-east). The countryside around Shirley includes Testwood Lakes.
Catering events across SO15
Across SO15, we cook in 3 towns and 1 villages and hamlets, so the setting can be anything from Shirley, Regents Park and Maybush to a quiet hamlet: level ground, ventilation and agreed timings. Around 13 places in SO15 are close to the coast, where we always plan shelter from the wind.
Shirley: If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Wordsworth Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Nearby historic houses include Southampton Tudor House and Garden (1.9 miles south-east) and Medieval Merchant's House (2 miles south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Around midsummer it stays light in Shirley until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
Occasions we cook for in SO15
There’s no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Retirement celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
How we price paella catering
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Getting an accurate quote
These details help us quote quickly:
- The address or venue name
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A photo of the space, if you can
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s normally the most photographed pan.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
SO15 questions
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
What does paella catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
- 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