Southampton · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Itchen events
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Itchen: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Big weddings with every diet
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Garden and marquee weddings
Live wedding paella catering in Itchen
How our wedding paella catering works in Itchen
We can do the whole day or just one part: canapés, a tapas starter, a paella wedding breakfast, evening food and dessert. For wedding receptions after a small ceremony and sharing-style wedding meals, we’ll put together a menu of Spanish desserts, canapé tapas and evening paella and more.
In Itchen, a local ceremony and a marquee reception is a lovely, personal choice. Paella cooked on the lawn suits that perfectly. Tell us about access to the field or garden. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Itchen (SO19, SO14)
- County
- Southampton
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Itchen
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Evening paella
- Dessert
- Table tapas
- Sangria & bar staff
Nearby places to Itchen
Other catering in Itchen
What wedding paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- Timings and hours
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Anything your venue supplies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Expected numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Events we cater in Itchen
It gives guests something to do between the ceremony and the meal: watch the pans.
In Itchen and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Farm and barn venues
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Garden and marquee weddings
Couples marrying at local churches such as Jesus Chapel - St Mary Extra frequently hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive.
Before you book anyone
- When payment is due
- How long the team stays
- When final numbers are due
- Allergen information for each dish
The menu, dish by dish
Canapé tapas
Canapé tapas fill the gap before the meal.
Desserts
A sweet finish: churros, crema catalana or your wedding cake.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Common questions in Itchen
What’s the nearest station to Itchen for guests?
Itchen has its own station: Woolston station.
Can you cook near the sea around Itchen?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Is halal food available?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and it is cooked separately.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
What happens on the day
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. For a summer wedding in Itchen, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so an evening paella for evening guests is normally served in daylight in high summer. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 4:00pm.
- Send us your wedding date, venue and numbers.
- Together we plan each course.
- We agree timings with you and your venue.
- On the day, we cook and serve each course.
- We pack down, and staff stay as agreed.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your wedding, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Read more
Why choose live paella in Itchen?
A plated wedding breakfast needs a kitchen and a large team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission, and feels more relaxed. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Put us in touch with your venue
- Check the venue’s rules for outside caterers
- Count day and evening guests separately
- Share your running order, including speeches
We usually set up where guests can watch, and it makes a great photo.
Finish with Spanish desserts or your cake.
Wedding venues and ceremonies near Itchen
Itchen is about 2 miles south-east of Southampton, in Southampton. Whether your wedding is in the middle of Itchen or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in all 40 towns and villages in Southampton, from the larger towns to small villages.
Planning photos in Houndwell Park? It’s worth checking the park’s rules first. Put the station on your invitation: Itchen has its own station, Woolston station. The New Forest National Park is within about 7 miles of Itchen, with plenty of rural wedding settings. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue. The sea is within about 2 miles, perfect for a seafood paella wedding. We will plan shelter from sea breezes.
Anywhere in SO19 and SO14, we can bring wedding paella catering to you. Streets in the area include Sea Road, Oak Road and West Road, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. You will find Itchen on the A3025, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. We also cook at weddings in Peartree Green (1 mile north-west), Northam (1 mile north-west), Sholing (1 mile east), Bitterne (1 mile north-east) and St Mary's (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in Shirley (3 miles north-west), Regents Park (3 miles west), Maybush (4 miles north-west), Coxford (4 miles north-west), Freemantle (3 miles west) and Lordswood (4 miles north-west). Itchen is among the bigger towns we cover in Southampton, with lots of choice for weddings.
Other landmarks nearby include Bitterne Local History Society Heritage And Research Centre (0.9 miles north) and Marlands Shopping Centre (1.6 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Netley Common.
- Schools near Itchen include Woolston School (within half a mile south) and Oasis Academy Sholing (0.6 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Engineers Arms (1 mile north-west)
- 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