Hampshire · England
Wedding paella catering in Soldridge, Hampshire
We cook paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food across Soldridge and Hampshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Destination-style celebrations at home
- Garden and marquee weddings
Live wedding paella catering in Soldridge
What wedding paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and time of the event
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Wedding paella catering in Soldridge, cooked live
At a wedding, paella is both the meal and a bit of a show. Guests wander over to watch while the photos are taken, and the meal arrives hot and generous. On the menu are Spanish desserts, table tapas and canapé tapas, and we are regularly asked to cater evening wedding food and spanish-themed and destination-style weddings.
A wedding in a small place like Soldridge frequently means a field, a barn or a family garden. That’s exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen needed, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
How the day works
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. In Soldridge, midsummer sunset is about 9:25pm, and by late September it is nearer 7:10pm, which means evening paella is generally served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it’s dark by about 4:00pm.
- 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
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or GU34 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Soldridge
What else we do in Soldridge
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Your questions about wedding paella catering in Soldridge
We’re having a ceremony at Church of the Good Shepherd: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Soldridge?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can we try the food first?
Ask us about tastings when you contact us.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
What if the timings change?
Tell us and we’ll adjust. We keep in touch with your venue on the day and time the rice so it’s served at its best.
Can you do our whole wedding menu?
We can cater as much or as little of the day as you like, from canapés to evening food.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Soldridge weddings: local tips
Soldridge is about 5 miles south-west of Alton, in Hampshire. Across the GU34 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cater in 683 places across Hampshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 19 miles away.
Couples marrying at local churches such as Church of the Good Shepherd frequently hold the reception nearby: we can be cooking during the photos, so the meal is ready when you arrive. For outdoor photos, Red Hill is close by.
Here we cover the GU34 postcode area. Streets in the area include Upper Soldridge Road, Rookwood Lane and Soldridge Road, and we can cook for a wedding on any of them. For weddings just outside Soldridge, we cover Medstead (1 mile north-east), Four Marks (1 mile east), South Town (1 mile north), Hattingley (2 miles north) and New Copse (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Basingstoke (11 miles north), Winchester (11 miles west), Eastleigh (15 miles south-west), Fleet (15 miles north-east), Horndean (14 miles south) and Alton (5 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Alton Community Hospital (4.1 miles north-east) and Barton Castle (2.7 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Red Hill.
The menu, dish by dish
Desserts
To finish: churros, crema catalana or your wedding cake.
Evening paella
A second round of paella for the evening, served quickly so the party keeps going.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Ask about your date as soon as you have one
- Count day and evening guests separately
- Add a dietary question to your RSVP cards
- Connect us with your coordinator
Evening guests can be served from fresh pans later on, timed for after the first dance.
Canapé tapas with the drinks reception keep guests going during photos.
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Canapé tapas
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
Why choose live paella in Soldridge?
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, consider your venue, diets and the style you want. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why book with us
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Drinks service on request
Read Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Occasions we cook for in Soldridge
Sharing food gets tables chatting, which suits a relaxed wedding.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Informal wedding breakfasts
- Farm and barn venues
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
- Weddings with mixed diets
Historic houses near Soldridge include Bentworth Hall (2.8 miles north) and Hall Place (3.2 miles north). Historic houses and estates frequently have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that is your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- A clear list of what’s included
- How late numbers can change
- 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