Southampton · England
Paella catering in SO17
We cook at events in every part of the SO17 postcode district, which takes in Portswood, Highfield and St Denys. The paella is cooked fresh in front of your guests.
Live paella across SO17
Places in SO17
- Portswood
- Highfield
- St Denys
- Shirley
- Regents Park
- Midanbury
- Bitterne Park
- Freemantle
- Inner Avenue
- Swaythling
- Bassett Green
- Mansbridge
- Bassett
- Bitterne Manor
What we do in SO17
- Paella party catering
- Corporate paella catering
- Festival & event paella
- Wedding paella catering
- Live paella catering
- Tapas & canapé catering
- See all our catering
Send us your event details and postcode and we’ll reply with a menu and a price: send us your details through our quote form.
Neighbouring districts
More in Southampton
Every town in Southampton
Areas we cover
About paella catering in SO17
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. We’re often asked to cater community events and fairs and milestone birthday parties, with mixed paella, paella Valenciana and vegan paella.
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Cost
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why hosts in SO17 choose us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Get a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Around Portswood
Locally, our events take us close to St Denys Primary School, St Anne's Catholic School and St Mary's Independent School and the streets around them. Also close by are South Western Arms (under half a mile south-east), Highfield Church (within half a mile north) and Southampton Common (0.8 miles west). There is a railway station in Portswood itself: St Denys station, handy for guests travelling by train. Nearby you will also find Marlands Shopping Centre (1.5 miles south) and Royal South Hants Hospital (0.9 miles south). Open spaces near Portswood include Netley Common.
Paella catering in SO17: local guide
There are 3 towns and 0 villages and hamlets in SO17, so the setting can be anything from Shirley, Regents Park and Midanbury to a quiet hamlet: level ground, ventilation and agreed timings. 14 of the places we cover in SO17 are within about 6 miles of the sea, where we always plan shelter from the wind.
Portswood: For a christening or wedding at a church such as Highfield Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Denys Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Evenings in Portswood stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- The paellas you choose
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
- How many staff you need
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Which courses you have in mind
- Anything your venue supplies
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Should I cook it myself?
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 at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Events we cater in SO17
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in SO17 book us for occasions like:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Summer garden parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Questions from SO17
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Which paella is most popular?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is normally the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
- 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