Buckinghamshire · England
Live paella catering in Ashendon, Buckinghamshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ashendon. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Book paella catering in Ashendon
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
About our paella catering in Ashendon
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We are frequently asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and leaving dos and retirements, serving seafood paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella.
In a hamlet or village like Ashendon, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Where
- Ashendon (HP18)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
FAQs for Ashendon
How far is Ashendon from London?
About 44 miles from central London.
Do you come out to small places like Ashendon?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Do you come to Ashendon?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Ashendon and across Buckinghamshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Can you cook indoors?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Which paellas suit our guests?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is normally the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Catering an event in Ashendon
Ashendon is about 5 miles north of Thame, in Buckinghamshire. For paella catering in Ashendon, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Ashendon. Ashendon is one of 263 places in Buckinghamshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 12 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Nearby historic houses include Waddesdon Manor (2.3 miles north-east) and Boarstall Tower (5 miles west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
We cook at events all over the HP18 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Main Street, Lower End and The Close or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. We also cook at events in Nether Winchendon (2 miles south-east), Westcott (2 miles north-east), Upper Winchendon (2 miles east), Waddesdon (3 miles north-east) and Wormstone (3 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Aylesbury (7 miles east), Buckingham (12 miles north), Elmhurst (7 miles east), Southcourt (7 miles east), Princes Risborough (9 miles south-east) and Haydon Hill (6 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Dinton Castle (4.1 miles south-east) and St John's Hospital (4.6 miles east). The countryside around Ashendon includes Snakemoor.
Is live paella right for your event?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why book with us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- A quote that spells everything out
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
How it works
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Planning an evening event in Ashendon? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us a contact for the day
Getting a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Ashendon? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Why choose paella catering in Ashendon?
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Retirement celebrations
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
For guests coming by train, Haddenham & Thame Parkway station is about 3.9 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- Payment terms and deposit
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
How we price paella catering
There is nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How many guests are eating
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The address or venue name
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Your date and when you want to eat
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Ashendon, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Put allergy details in writing
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
What else we do in Ashendon
About the dishes
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It is typically the most photographed pan.
- 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