Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering in Banbury
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Banbury: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Milestone birthday parties
Book paella catering in Banbury
How our paella catering works in Banbury
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll suggest what suits your event. On the menu are vegetable paella, black rice and vegan paella, and typical bookings are for festivals, fairs and school events and big birthdays.
Gardens in Banbury range from small patios to big lawns, and most can work for live paella. A gazebo over the cooking spot covers you for rain. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Area
- Banbury (OX16, OX17)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We need:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Why choose paella catering in Banbury?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Banbury and Oxfordshire:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Banbury station, about 0.8 miles east.
Comparing caterers
- The venue requirements
- The wet-weather plan
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether VAT is included
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Banbury? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Banbury questions
What’s the nearest station to Banbury for guests?
The closest is Banbury station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Saint Paul's?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can we choose the seafood?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
How much does paella catering cost in Banbury?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Parking and unloading
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How long we’re needed on site
- How many guests are eating
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Step by step
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Around midsummer it stays light in Banbury until about 9:30pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Nearby places to Banbury
Also in Banbury
Catering an event in Banbury
Banbury is in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Banbury, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Banbury. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. We cook right across the region, from Banbury to Oxford (about 22 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Broughton Castle (2.5 miles south-west) and Wardington Manor (4.3 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Parks such as People's Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
We cook at events all over OX16 and OX17 and the streets around it. Your event could be at a home on High Street, Market Place and Grimsbury Square. With the A361 and A422 close by, Banbury is easy for us to reach for your event. Other places close to Banbury for paella catering include Neithrop (1 mile west), Ruscote (1 mile west), Grimsbury (1 mile east), Drayton (1 mile north-west) and North Newington (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Bicester (14 miles south-east), Bure Park (13 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (12 miles south-west), Woodstock (15 miles south), Bloxham (3 miles south) and Charlbury (14 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Oxfordshire, Banbury has lots of places to hold an event.
Nearby you will also find Castle Quay Shopping Centre (0.5 miles east) and Banbury Castle (0.5 miles east). Open spaces near Banbury include Crouch Hill and Farthinghoe Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include English Language Training (0.5 miles south-east) and Banbury Academy (0.9 miles south)
- Local pubs include Duke of Wellington pub (less than half a mile north)
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is often the first pan to empty.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own 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