Hampshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Chawton events
Planning wedding paella catering in Chawton? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Rustic barn weddings
- Big weddings with every diet
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
Planning an event in Chawton?
How our wedding paella catering works in Chawton
Paella as evening food is popular: hot, filling and served quickly from the pan, so the party keeps going. On the menu are canapé tapas, Spanish desserts and table tapas, and we’re regularly asked to cater destination-style celebrations at home and parties after a register office wedding.
Rural weddings around Chawton have a magic of their own, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Occasions we cook for in Chawton
It gives guests something to do between the ceremony and the meal: gather round the cooking.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Blessings and vow renewals
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
- Evening wedding food
Nearby historic houses include Bentworth Hall (2.8 miles west) and Hall Place (3.2 miles north-west). Historic houses and estates often have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that is your venue.
Before booking anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Payment terms and deposit
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- If the price includes VAT
How we price wedding paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- How many staff you need
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What to tell us
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The venue or postcode
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your wedding, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Chawton questions
Is Chawton too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Which station should guests use for Chawton?
Alton station, about 1.6 miles north-east of the centre.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Chawton.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Do you offer tastings?
Mention a tasting in your enquiry, and we’ll talk you through it.
Do you come to Chawton?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Chawton is within our area. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Book early for summer Saturdays
- Connect us with your coordinator
- Pick a serving style
On the day, we liaise with your coordinator or toastmaster, so you can enjoy yourselves.
A table tapas starter gets everyone sharing.
What happens on the day
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. In Chawton, midsummer sunset is about 9:20pm, and by late September it is nearer 7:05pm, so an evening paella for evening guests is usually served in daylight in high summer. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- Share your date, venue, numbers and plans for the day.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- We agree timings with you and your venue, including speeches and photos.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- We clear our cooking area, and staff stay as agreed.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Places near Chawton
Also in Chawton
Getting married in Chawton?
Chawton is about 1 mile south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. From the centre of Chawton to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Chawton is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire we cover. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 20 miles away.
Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of St Nicholas frequently hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive. Put the station on your invitation: Alton station is about 1.6 miles away.
Wherever your wedding is in GU34, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Local streets include Winchester Road and Wolf's Lane; a wedding at home on any of them works well with live paella. For weddings just outside Chawton, we cover Alton (1 mile north-east), Upper Farringdon (2 miles south), Lower Farringdon (2 miles south), Farringdon (2 miles south) and Hartley Mauditt (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Basingstoke (10 miles north-west), Winchester (15 miles west), Farnborough (15 miles north-east), Fleet (12 miles north-east), Aldershot (13 miles north-east) and Petersfield (9 miles south).
A little further out are Allen Gallery (1.3 miles north-east) and Alton Community Hospital (less than half a mile north). Not far away are King's Hill.
- Local schools include Amery Hill School (1.4 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Greyfriar pub (under half a mile south)
Paella compared with other options
Live paella is less formal than a plated meal, but with canapés, table tapas and good crockery, it still feels special. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Chawton hosts choose us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
- Sangria & bar staff
- 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