Hampshire · England
Wedding paella catering in Drayton, Hampshire
We cook paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food across Drayton and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Rustic barn weddings
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
Wedding paella catering in Drayton
About our wedding paella catering in Drayton
The smell of saffron and garlic drifting across a garden or barn gets guests excited about the meal. For destination-style celebrations at home and wedding receptions after a small ceremony, we can cook a paella wedding breakfast, canapé tapas and table tapas for your guests.
There is something special about a country wedding near Drayton, and paella cooking in the open air adds to it. Plan access and cover in case of rain. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Step by step
Here’s how the day typically runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it’s served hot from the pan when you are ready to eat. Golden-hour photos in Drayton at midsummer come around 9:20pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May and 7:10pm in late September.
- Send us your wedding date, venue and numbers.
- We plan your menu course by course.
- Timings are agreed with your venue.
- On the day, we cook and serve each course.
- We clear our area; staff stay as booked.
Before we arrive
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Drayton: your questions answered
Is Drayton 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.
What’s the nearest station to Drayton for guests?
The closest is Petersfield station, roughly 4.7 miles away.
Can you liaise with the venue coordinator?
Yes, it makes life easier. Put us in touch and we will agree the details.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Is paella smart enough for a wedding?
With the right presentation, it feels special: canapés, table tapas, good crockery and staff serving the tables.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Getting married in Drayton?
Drayton is about 5 miles west of Petersfield, in Hampshire. For wedding paella catering in Drayton, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Drayton is one of 683 towns and villages in Hampshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 16 miles away.
For outdoor photos, Henwood Down is close by, and the countryside around Drayton suits an outdoor reception. Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of All Saints frequently hold the reception nearby: the paella can be cooking while you have photos taken, so it is ready as guests arrive. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Drayton, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
We cook at weddings all over GU32. For weddings just outside Drayton, we cover West Meon (2 miles west), Privett (3 miles north), Filmore Hill (3 miles north), Bailey Green (3 miles north) and West Tisted (4 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Winchester (12 miles west), Gosport (14 miles south), Havant (10 miles south), Eastleigh (13 miles west), Fareham (12 miles south-west) and Horndean (7 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Clanfield Earthwork (4.8 miles south-east) and Petersfield Community Hospital (4.7 miles east). The countryside around Drayton includes Henwood Down and Shutts Copse.
- Pubs nearby include The George Inn (1 mile south-east)
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Collect dietary needs on the RSVP
- Ask about your date as soon as you have one
- Share your running order, including speeches
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
The pans are often set up where guests can see them, which makes a lovely backdrop for photos.
Add sangria, or bar staff to serve your own drinks.
Places near Drayton
Other catering in Drayton
For planners, venues and organisers
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Why choose live paella in Drayton?
If you’re weighing up paella against a traditional menu, think about your venue, your guests’ diets and the feel of the day. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Drayton hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Drayton and across Hampshire
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Dishes our guests love
Desserts
A sweet finish: Spanish desserts or your own cake.
Paella wedding breakfast
The main event: paellas for every diet, served straight from the pan.
Planning the cooking area
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Canapé tapas
- Dessert
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Evening paella
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Waiting and bar staff
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- What the venue already provides
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
- Diets and allergies you know about
Send us the date, your venue or GU32 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
- 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