Hampshire · England

Paella catering in SO24

Hosting a party in SO24? We cook in New Alresford, Ropley and Bishop's Sutton and every street in between, with paella cooked from scratch.

Planning an event in SO24?

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Places in SO24

Events we cater in SO24

Send us your event details and postcode and we’ll reply with a menu and a price: use our quote form.

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Elsewhere in Hampshire

Every town in Hampshire
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Map of SO24 © OpenStreetMap contributors

About paella catering in SO24

Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it is ready, we serve it hot from the pan. On the menu are black rice, seafood paella and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for anniversaries and engagement parties and milestone birthday parties.

We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks.

First, tell us about your event.
We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
We serve from the pan, then pack down.

Pricing in SO24

Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.

Why book with us

We cover SO24 and the whole of Hampshire
Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Live cooking, not reheated food

How to get a price

We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.

Around New Alresford

In New Alresford, that can mean a party near Church of St John the Baptist, The Running Horse Public House and Perins School, among other places. Well-known places in the area include Barton Castle (4.3 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Shutts Copse.

Live paella across SO24: what to know

SO24 covers everything from New Alresford, Ropley and Bishop's Sutton to 23 small villages and hamlets, and live paella works in all of them. Town events mean planning parking; village events mean planning access.

New Alresford: If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Sun Hill Junior School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Historic houses near New Alresford include Hinton Ampner House (3 miles south). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. In New Alresford, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.

Dietary needs and planning tips

Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:

Make sure each pan is labelled
Mention any other courses or food
Ensure most guests can sit to eat
Count adults and children separately

Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we generally call guests over.

Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.

Live paella or other catering?

Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot.

What your quote should include

What the price includes, item by item
How many staff are coming, and for how long
Who provides the crockery
How each diet is kept separate

Cook it yourself or book a caterer?

DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.

A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.

How we price paella catering

The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:

The length of service
Starters, canapés and desserts
The number of people
Crockery and cutlery, or disposables

Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.

What we need to know

We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
The date and time of the event
What the venue already provides
Which courses you have in mind

Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.

Space, weather and the venue

Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:

Parking close enough to carry equipment
Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls

FAQs for SO24

When do you arrive?

We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.

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 take the right care.

Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.

Where do you cater?

London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including SO24.

What equipment do you bring?

All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.

What if the weather’s bad?

Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.

Can we choose the seafood?

Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.

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

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