Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Balscote, Oxfordshire
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Balscote and Oxfordshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Big birthdays
Paella catering in Balscote
Paella catering in Balscote, cooked live
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s exactly what we bring to your event in Balscote. For company summer parties and christenings and family gatherings, we can cook vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella for your guests.
In a small place like Balscote, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about 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.
- Location
- Balscote (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella or other catering?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why choose Love Paella in Balscote
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
What paella catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
- How long we are needed on site
- The paellas you choose
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and rough timings
- The courses you’d like
- Expected numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Put allergy details in writing
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Who books paella catering in Balscote?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary Magdalene, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- If the price includes VAT
- The venue requirements
- Any travel, parking or access charges
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Nearby places to Balscote
Also in Balscote
FAQs for Balscote
Is Balscote too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary Magdalene?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can you do sangria?
Yes, sangria. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Planners, venues and businesses
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Planning an evening event in Balscote? Sunset is around 9:00pm in late May, 9:30pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- 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.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Balscote? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Balscote: venues, travel and local tips
Balscote is about 4 miles west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Balscote, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cover all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire. We cook right across the region, from Balscote to Oxford (24 miles away).
Historic houses near Balscote include Upton House (2.8 miles north-west) and Broughton Castle (2.8 miles south-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. For guests coming by train, Banbury station is about 4.5 miles away.
Wherever your event is in OX15, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. For events just outside Balscote, we cover Shutford (1 mile south), Alkerton (1 mile north-west), Shenington (1 mile north-west), Epwell (2 miles west) and Tadmarton (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Banbury (4 miles east), Chipping Norton (10 miles south-west), Neithrop (3 miles east), Grimsbury (5 miles east), Ruscote (3 miles east) and Bloxham (4 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Horton General Hospital (4.2 miles east) and W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation (1.1 miles north-east). The countryside around Balscote includes Woodford Bottom and Lamb's Pool and Edge Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Butchers Arms Public House (under half a mile west)
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
- 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