Oxfordshire · England
Festival & event paella in Appleford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Appleford-on-Thames: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Charity and school events
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- Race days and sports events
Planning an event in Appleford-on-Thames?
Festival paella catering in Appleford-on-Thames, made fresh on the day
Paella in a bowl is perfect festival food, on the move or on a picnic rug. Whether it’s crew, volunteer and VIP catering and farmers’ and Christmas markets, we can cook vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and giant-pan paella for your guests.
At a field event near Appleford-on-Thames, power and water may be limited; let us know and we will plan for it. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Appleford-on-Thames (OX14)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Appleford-on-Thames
It adds theatre to a food line-up.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Open days and community events
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Village fêtes
- Feeding crew and volunteers
School fairs, for a school like Didcot Girls' School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
Before booking anyone
- How long the team stays
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- A clear list of what’s included
Dishes our guests love
Giant paella pans
It is the huge pan people come to see.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
Step by step
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you’re free to enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. Evening events in Appleford-on-Thames have light until about 9:25pm at midsummer; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- On the day, we arrive and set up our pitch.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Get a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Plan seating near the food area
- Send traders one clear trader pack
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
- Check how many portions traders can serve
We clear the pitch and leave it as we found it.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clear information on power, water and waste
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
- Vehicle access to the pitch at set-up and break-down
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
On the menu in Appleford-on-Thames
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
Paella compared with other options
Not every trader covers vegans. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why Appleford-on-Thames hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A quote that spells everything out
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Appleford-on-Thames events: pitches and permissions
Appleford-on-Thames is about 2 miles north of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Appleford-on-Thames or on the outskirts, festival paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in 443 places in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Appleford-on-Thames to Oxford (about 8 miles away).
For visitors coming by rail, Appleford-on-Thames has its own station, Appleford station. Running a fête for a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul? A paella pan draws people in.
For festival paella catering in OX14, we plan around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include Chambrai Close, Church Street and Main Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Long Wittenham (1 mile east), Culham (1 mile north-west), Sutton Courtenay (2 miles west), Clifton Hampden (2 miles north-east) and Didcot (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (8 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles north-west), Witney (15 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north-east), Wantage (8 miles south-west) and Grove (8 miles west).
A little further out are Pendon Museum (1 mile east) and FitzHarris Castle (3.1 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Mowbray Fields and Wittenham Clumps.
- Local pubs include Carpenters Arms (within half a mile south-east)
Also near Appleford-on-Thames
Also in Appleford-on-Thames
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
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.
Appleford-on-Thames: your questions answered
Is Appleford-on-Thames too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
How far is Appleford-on-Thames from London?
Roughly 50 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it is worth asking.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
What documents can you send?
Send your requirements and we’ll include them with our application.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
- 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