Hampshire · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Hardley events
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food for events in Hardley.
- Big weddings with every diet
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Weddings in a marquee or garden
Planning an event in Hardley?
Wedding paella catering for your wedding in Hardley
Evening paella is a favourite: hot, filling and served quickly from the pan, so evening guests are fed and the dancing carries on. For weddings with a Spanish theme and big weddings with every diet, we will put together a menu of evening paella, table tapas and canapé tapas and more.
A wedding in a small place like Hardley often means a field, a barn or a family garden. That is exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Tell us about lanes, gates and ground conditions. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of where we’d cook
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
About the dishes
Table tapas
A tapas starter gets tables talking before the paella arrives.
Canapé tapas
Canapés keep guests happy between the ceremony and the meal.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. 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.
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- An open-sided catering gazebo next to the marquee
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Menu ideas
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
How it works
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. In Hardley, midsummer sunset is about 9:20pm, and by late September it’s nearer 7:10pm, which means evening paella is typically served in daylight in June and July. For autumn and winter weddings, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm in December, plan lighting for the cooking area.
- We check availability for your date.
- You pick the courses and dishes.
- We confirm everything with your venue.
- The pans cook while guests enjoy the drinks.
- We serve and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Tell us where to park and unload
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Towns and villages near Hardley
More for events in Hardley
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Put us in touch with your venue
- Count day and evening guests separately
- Enquire early for peak dates
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
We clear our cooking area away afterwards; any staff stay as long as agreed.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not.
Getting married in Hardley?
Hardley is about 2 miles south of Hythe, in Hampshire. Tell us where your wedding in Hardley will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cover all 683 towns and villages in Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages.
For guests travelling by train, Netley station is about 3.3 miles away. For outdoor photos, Mercury Marshes is close by, and the countryside around Hardley suits an outdoor reception. With the New Forest National Park within about 4 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue. With the coast within about 4 miles, a seafood paella suits a seaside-style wedding. Coastal wind needs a sheltered cooking spot.
We cook at weddings all over the SO45 postcode area and the streets around it. We can cater a wedding on streets such as Harrier Way, Harrier Green and Falconer Court. Close by, we cover weddings in Little Holbury (1 mile south), Holbury (1 mile south), Frostlane (1 mile north), Roughdown (1 mile south) and Blackfield (2 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Gosport (11 miles east), Eastleigh (9 miles north), Fareham (9 miles east), Totton (7 miles north-west), Chandler's Ford (10 miles north) and Hedge End (7 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Royal South Hants Hospital (5.1 miles north) and Beaulieu Abbey And Display Of Monastic Life (2.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Mercury Marshes.
- Local schools include Manor Church of England Infant School (under half a mile south)
FAQs for Hardley
Do you cater in the New Forest National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Sea breezes cool the pan, so a windbreak, building or gazebo helps.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
What if our speeches run late?
Tell us and we’ll adjust. We keep in touch with your venue on the day so the paella is served fresh.
Paella compared with other options
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, consider your venue, diets and the style you want. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Organising for someone else?
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
- 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