Buckinghamshire · England
Festival & event paella in Ilmer, Buckinghamshire
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in Ilmer.
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Community events and open days
Festival paella catering for Ilmer events
How our festival paella catering works in Ilmer
Crew and volunteer catering can be timed to your schedule, keeping your team fed. We are often asked to cater village fêtes and summer fairs and farmers’ and Christmas markets, serving seafood paella, churros and vegan paella.
At a field event near Ilmer, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we will plan around it. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Location
- Ilmer (HP27)
- Area hub
- Buckinghamshire
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Running an event in Ilmer
Ilmer is about 4 miles east of Thame, in Buckinghamshire. For festival paella catering in Ilmer, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Ilmer is one of 263 places in Buckinghamshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Ilmer to Oxford (about 15 miles away).
School fairs, for a school like Longwick Church of England Combined School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of St Peter, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. Events in and around the Chilterns National Landscape, within about 6 miles of Ilmer, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we work to the site rules.
This part of Buckinghamshire takes in HP27. Other places close to Ilmer for festival paella catering include Longwick (1 mile south-east), Holly Green (1 mile south), Forty Green (1 mile south), Owlswick (1 mile east) and Pitch Green (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Aylesbury (6 miles north-east), High Wycombe (10 miles south-east), Chesham (12 miles east), Marlow (13 miles south), Amersham (13 miles east) and Beaconsfield (14 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Thame Community Hospital (3.6 miles west) and Great Kimble Dial Hill (3.4 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Beacon Hill and Snakemoor.
Your questions about festival paella catering in Ilmer
Is Ilmer close to London?
Roughly 38 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you trade at our festival or fair?
Send us the details, and we’ll reply with our availability and what we need.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Can you feed our volunteers?
We can. Crew, volunteer and VIP catering is available, with or without a public stall.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What areas do you cover?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Ilmer.
What’s in the pans
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling.
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
Places near Ilmer
More for events in Ilmer
Space, weather and the venue
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Your arrangements for power, water and waste
- Access for unloading at set-up
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Popular choices
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
How we price festival paella catering
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How long we are needed on site
- Your choice of paellas
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Guest numbers
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
- Any dietary needs and allergies
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Who books festival paella catering in Ilmer?
A paella stall draws people into the food area.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Ilmer, people book us for events such as:
- Open days
- Food and music festivals
- Sports club events
- School fairs and fundraisers
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Monks Risborough station, about 2.5 miles east.
Before booking anyone
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Payment terms and deposit
- Who provides the crockery
- How each diet is kept separate
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. At midsummer, events in Ilmer stay light until about 9:25pm, so evening trading normally finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Send the event name, expected visitors and pitch size.
- We reply with our menu, prices for visitors and requirements.
- We send the documents the event asks for.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- At close, we pack down and tidy up.
How to prepare
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Planning help
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
We set up at the agreed time.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
- 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