Buckinghamshire · England
Festival & event paella in California, Buckinghamshire
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in California and the surrounding area.
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Music and food festivals
Festival paella catering near California
Your questions about festival paella catering in California
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
How far is California from London?
Roughly 38 miles from the centre of London.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
Should we have more than one paella?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
How our festival paella catering works in California
Paella eats well from a bowl with a fork, standing up or sitting on the grass. Typical bookings include VIP and hospitality areas and county and country shows, serving chicken and chorizo paella, churros and giant-pan paella.
In California, one trader covering most diets keeps it simple. Paella does exactly that. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Location
- California (HP21, HP20, HP19)
- Area hub
- Buckinghamshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Nearby places to California
What else we do in California
Running an event in California
California is about 1 mile south of Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. Anywhere in HP21, we can bring the pans to you. California is one of 263 places in Buckinghamshire where we cook. Our events stretch from California to Milton Keynes (about 16 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Oak Green School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. Within about 5 miles is the Chilterns National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
We cater events across HP21, HP20 and HP19. From Lee Road, Penn Road and Eaton Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. You’ll find California on the A41 and A418, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside California, we also cover Aylesbury (1 mile north), Walton (1 mile east), Queens Park (1 mile east), Southcourt (1 mile south) and New Zealand (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include High Wycombe (13 miles south), Chesham (11 miles south-east), Buckingham (15 miles north-west), Amersham (13 miles south-east), Princes Risborough (6 miles south) and Haddenham (6 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Friars Square (less than half a mile north-east) and Dinton Castle (3.4 miles west). Not far away are Beacon Hill.
- Nearby schools include Buckinghamshire UTC (less than half a mile west) and Pebble Brook School (within half a mile west)
- Nearby, you will find King's Head Inn (less than half a mile north-east)
Occasions we cook for in California
It feeds crew and volunteers well.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Open days and community events
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
- Agricultural and county shows
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
For visitors coming by rail, California has its own station, Aylesbury station.
Questions to ask before booking
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- How late numbers can change
- The venue requirements
- What happens if it rains
What affects the price in California
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Travel, parking and access
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Expected numbers
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. For an evening event in California, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Send the event name, expected visitors and pitch size.
- You get our stall menu and what we need on site.
- Paperwork goes over in good time.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- When trading ends, the pitch is cleared and left clean.
Preparing for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Planning help
For event organisers in California
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
DIY paella versus live catering
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Spacing from tents and other structures
- Clear information on power, water and waste
- Room for our cooking and serving area
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Churros
Paella compared with other options
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. A huge pan cooking in view sells itself. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why California hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Drinks service on request
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at Our prices page Or Our guide to catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Schedule crew meals
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Put picnic tables near the traders
We keep our pitch tidy and safe throughout the day.
Bowl food for easy eating on the move.
- 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