Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering in Appleford-on-Thames
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Appleford-on-Thames.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Live paella catering in Appleford-on-Thames
Paella catering in Appleford-on-Thames, made fresh on the day
Paella is generous food: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. Whether it’s office lunches and staff parties and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we will put together a menu of black rice, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Somewhere as small as Appleford-on-Thames, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Location
- Appleford-on-Thames (OX14)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella in Appleford-on-Thames: local details
Appleford-on-Thames is about 2 miles north of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Appleford-on-Thames and the surrounding area. Appleford-on-Thames is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire we cover. Our events stretch from Appleford-on-Thames to Oxford (about 8 miles away).
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Didcot Girls' School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Nearby historic houses include Clifton Hampden Manor (1.9 miles north-east) and Brightwell Manor (3.7 miles south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
We cover events in every part of the OX14 postcode area. From Chambrai Close, Church Street and Main Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater events include 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). Larger places within reach include 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).
Well-known places in the area include Pendon Museum (1 mile east) and FitzHarris Castle (3.1 miles north-west). The countryside around Appleford-on-Thames includes Mowbray Fields and Wittenham Clumps.
- Pubs nearby include Carpenters Arms (within half a mile south-east)
Your questions about paella catering in Appleford-on-Thames
Which station should guests use for Appleford-on-Thames?
Appleford-on-Thames has its own station: Appleford station.
Do you come out to small places like Appleford-on-Thames?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How long we are needed on site
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The date and rough timings
- Diets and allergies you know about
- What the venue already provides
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
How the day works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Evenings in Appleford-on-Thames stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Events we cater in Appleford-on-Thames
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Whatever you’re celebrating in Appleford-on-Thames, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Retirement celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Company summer parties
For guests coming by train, Appleford-on-Thames has its own station, Appleford station.
What your quote should include
- Staff numbers and hours
- Who provides the crockery
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Space, access and power needs
Also near Appleford-on-Thames
Also in Appleford-on-Thames
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Appleford-on-Thames? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Live paella or other catering?
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Appleford-on-Thames hosts choose us
- We cover Appleford-on-Thames and the whole of Oxfordshire
- A clear, itemised quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Sangria and bar staff available
See How we price And The cost guide.
- 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