Isle of Wight · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Great Thorness events
We cook paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food across Great Thorness and the Isle of Wight, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Farm and barn venues
- Big weddings with every diet
- Weddings with a Spanish theme
Wedding paella catering near Great Thorness
Questions from Great Thorness
Do you come out to small places like Great Thorness?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you work with our venue?
Yes. We are happy to talk to your venue about access, timings and requirements.
How much does wedding paella catering cost in Great Thorness?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
What if the timings change?
It happens. The rice goes in at the last sensible moment, so it’s served at its best.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
About our wedding paella catering in Great Thorness
We plan the wedding menu with you, course by course, to suit your guests, venue and budget. Whether it’s vow renewals and civil ceremonies and evening wedding food, we’ll put together a menu of Spanish desserts, canapé tapas and table tapas for your guests.
There is something special about a country wedding near Great Thorness, and an open-air paella adds to it. Plan for access and a wet-weather cover. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Great Thorness (PO31)
- County
- Isle of Wight
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A separate open-sided gazebo if the meal is in a marquee
Great Thorness is a more remote spot, so tell us early and we’ll plan the journey.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Table tapas
- Canapé tapas
- Evening paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Ask about your date as soon as you have one
- Introduce us to your venue coordinator
- Include any suppliers you’re feeding
We generally set up where guests can watch, which makes a lovely backdrop for photos.
A table tapas starter gets everyone sharing.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. At midsummer, sunset in Great Thorness is about 9:20pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:55pm, and in late September about 7:10pm.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm the plan with your coordinator.
- Guests watch the paella cook during the reception.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Plan cover in case of rain
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. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your wedding?
Hog roasts are popular but tricky for mixed diets. Paella covers them with separate pans. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Drinks service on request
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Great Thorness
Great Thorness is about 3 miles south-west of Cowes, in the Isle of Wight. We cook at weddings in gardens, halls and venues around Great Thorness. We cook in 125 places in the Isle of Wight. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 13 miles away.
Mill Hill nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos. The sea is within about 4 miles, perfect for a seafood paella wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
Wedding paella catering in PO31 is planned around your venue. For weddings just outside Great Thorness, we cover Porchfield (1 mile south-west), Locksgreen (1 mile south-west), Rew Street (2 miles north-east), Newtown (2 miles south-west) and Northwood (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Newport (3 miles south-east), Ryde (9 miles east), Cowes (3 miles north-east), Sandown (10 miles south-east), Shanklin (10 miles south-east) and Ventnor (11 miles south-east). Remote venues take a little more planning, so ask early about your wedding.
A little further out are Carisbrooke Castle (3.5 miles south-east) and St Mary's Hospital (2.8 miles south-east). Not far away are Mill Hill.
- Local pubs include Sportsman's Rest pub (0.9 miles south-west)
The menu, dish by dish
Table tapas
Sharing tapas breaks the ice before the paella arrives.
Paella wedding breakfast
Two or three paellas, served from the pans or brought to the tables, with bread and salad.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Towns and villages near Great Thorness
Also in Great Thorness
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Distance and access to the venue
- The paellas you choose
- How many courses
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Where the event is
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your wedding in Great Thorness, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Why choose wedding paella catering in Great Thorness?
It’s a natural fit for barns, marquees and gardens, where a plated meal can be hard to pull off.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Weddings with mixed diets
- Rustic barn weddings
- Sharing-style wedding meals
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
Historic houses near Great Thorness include Swainston Manor (3 miles south) and Carisbrooke Castle (3.5 miles south-east). Historic houses and estates often have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that’s your venue.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- How long the team stays
- A clear list of what’s included
- VAT, if it applies
- 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