Hampshire · England
Wedding paella catering in Ashford, Hampshire
Treat your guests to live paella at your wedding in Ashford. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Rustic barn weddings
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Garden and marquee weddings
Planning an event in Ashford?
Wedding paella catering in Ashford, made fresh on the day
At a wedding, paella is both the meal and a bit of a show. Guests drift over to watch the pans while the photos are being taken, and the meal arrives hot and generous. On the menu are Spanish desserts, evening paella and canapé tapas, and we are regularly asked to cater weddings with a Spanish theme and weddings with lots of dietary needs.
There’s something special about a country wedding near Ashford, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Common questions in Ashford
Can you cater a reception after a service at Sandleheath Village Hall?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is Ashford too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Do you do desserts?
We can add a dessert. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you cater for young children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you cater for suppliers?
Just add them to your numbers. Let us know when they need feeding.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
What wedding paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Travel, parking and access
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
- Timings and hours
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Is live paella right for your wedding?
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, think about your venue, your guests’ diets and the feel of the day. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Drinks service on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. In Ashford, midsummer sunset is about 9:25pm, and by late September it is nearer 7:10pm, which means evening paella is usually served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it’s dark by about 4:05pm.
- Send us your wedding date, venue and numbers.
- We plan your menu course by course.
- Timings are agreed with your venue.
- We cook live on the day and serve each course.
- We clear our area; staff stay as booked.
Getting ready for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your wedding, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Dishes our guests love
Table tapas
Bowls and boards set down in the middle of each table, such as patatas bravas, croquetas and Manchego.
Desserts
Churros with chocolate, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Working with your venue
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Also near Ashford
Also in Ashford
Catering for every guest
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Let us know about meals for your band or photographer
- Decide whether guests queue at the pans or are served at the tables
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Tell us when speeches will be
After service, we pack down our cooking area; any staff stay as long as agreed.
Finish with Spanish desserts or your cake.
Ashford weddings: local tips
Ashford is in Hampshire. For wedding paella catering in Ashford, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cover 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Ashford to Southampton (about 18 miles away).
For outdoor photos, Blashford Lakes is close by, and the countryside around Ashford suits an outdoor reception. Couples marrying at local churches such as Sandleheath Village Hall often hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
We cover weddings in every part of the SP6 postcode area. Your wedding could be at a home on Station Road, Rookwood Gardens and Ashford Close. Nearby, we also cater weddings in Sandleheath (1 mile west), Alderholt (2 miles south-west), Damerham (2 miles north-west), Rockbourne (3 miles north-west) and Broxhill (3 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Totton (13 miles east), Romsey (15 miles east), New Milton (14 miles south-east), Ringwood (6 miles south), Barton on Sea (14 miles south-east) and Ashley (14 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Godshill Castle Hill (2.1 miles north-east) and Fordingbridge Museum (0.7 miles east). Not far away are Linbrook Lake and Blashford Lakes.
- Local schools include The Burgate School and Sixth Form (1 mile north-east)
- Local pubs include The Ship Inn (0.6 miles east)
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- An open-sided catering gazebo next to the marquee
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Sangria & bar staff
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
- Table tapas
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- 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