Oxfordshire · England
Festival Paella Catering for St John Street area events
We cook paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in St John Street area and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- School and charity events
- Music and food festivals
- Community events and open days
Festival paella catering for St John Street area events
About our festival paella catering in St John Street area
One paella stall covers many diets: meat, seafood and vegan pans side by side. That makes life easier for organisers. For agricultural and county shows and village fêtes and summer fairs, we can cook seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella.
In St John Street area, one trader covering most diets keeps it simple. Paella does exactly that. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Where
- St John Street area (OX1, OX2)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling, popular with families.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid for fish lovers.
What happens on the day
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Summer events in St John Street area have daylight until about 9:25pm at midsummer and about 7:10pm by late September, so evening trading generally finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- We confirm what we’ll serve, our pitch needs and any paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Towns and villages near St John Street area
Also in St John Street area
What affects the price in St John Street area
There’s nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Who books festival paella catering in St John Street area?
Crew love a hot meal.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Country shows
- Open days and community events
- Sports clubs and race days
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Pusey House Chapel, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
Comparing caterers
- Travel and parking costs
- How long the team stays
- When payment is due
- When final numbers are due
Running an event in St John Street area
St John Street area is about 1 mile west of Oxford, in Oxfordshire. Events in St John Street area are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. St John Street area is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire we cover.
School fairs, for a school like The Eckersley School of English, are a natural fit for a paella stall. For visitors coming by rail, St John Street area has its own station, Oxford station.
Anywhere in OX1 and OX2, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From New Road, Shoe Lane and Love Lane or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. St John Street area is on the A420 and A4144, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Neighbouring places where we cater events include St. Ebbes (1 mile south), Jericho (1 mile north-west), Osney (1 mile south-west), Walton Manor (1 mile north) and Norham Manor (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Didcot (10 miles south), Bicester (11 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles south), Witney (10 miles west), Carterton (14 miles west) and Thame (12 miles east).
A little further out are Oxford University Press Museum (less than half a mile north-west) and Oxford Castle (within half a mile south). The countryside around St John Street area includes Hook Meadow and The Trap Grounds and Headington Hill.
- Nearby schools include St Barnabas' Church of England Aided Primary School (within half a mile north-west) and Oxford Academy (1.3 miles north)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Eagle and Child pub (less than half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include Angus Library and Archive (within half a mile north-east)
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Provide seating near the food
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
We cook in full view of visitors, and serve from the pan throughout the event.
Tapas and churros can be added to a stall menu.
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Access for unloading at set-up
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- A pitch away from tents and structures
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
Your questions about festival paella catering in St John Street area
Can you run a stall at a school fair in St John Street area?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
What’s the nearest station to St John Street area for guests?
St John Street area has its own station: Oxford station.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, Oxfordshire included. Find your area.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
What does festival paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Paella compared with other options
Crew sandwiches are easy but dull. A hot meal keeps crew happy. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
- 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