Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering for Bletchingdon events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Bletchingdon: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Retirement celebrations
Live paella catering in Bletchingdon
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
How our paella catering works in Bletchingdon
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll suggest what suits your event. Typical bookings include retirement celebrations and office lunches and staff parties, serving vegetable paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana.
In a small place like Bletchingdon, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Area
- Bletchingdon (OX5)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Also near Bletchingdon
Also in Bletchingdon
DIY paella versus live catering
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Live paella in Bletchingdon: local details
Bletchingdon is about 6 miles south-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Wherever your event is in the OX5 area, we will come to your venue or garden. Bletchingdon is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we cook. Our events stretch from Bletchingdon to Oxford (about 7 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Giles, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Nearby historic houses include Blenheim Palace (3.9 miles west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Anywhere in OX5, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Station Road, St Giles and Annesley Close or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Enslow (1 mile west), Kirtlington (1 mile north), Hampton Poyle (1 mile south), Weston-on-the-Green (2 miles east) and Kidlington (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Oxford (7 miles south), Banbury (15 miles north), Bicester (6 miles north-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles south), Witney (10 miles south-west) and Carterton (15 miles south-west).
A little further out are Bicester Community Hospital (5.7 miles north-east) and Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (3.6 miles west). Not far away are Woodsides Meadow.
- Pubs nearby include The Blacks Head Public House (within half a mile east)
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Around midsummer it stays light in Bletchingdon until about 9:30pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Bletchingdon, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Why choose paella catering in Bletchingdon?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
For guests coming by train, Tackley station is about 2.1 miles away.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- If the price includes VAT
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- When final numbers are due
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
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
FAQs for Bletchingdon
Which station should guests use for Bletchingdon?
Tackley station, about 2.1 miles north-west of the centre.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Giles?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Do you provide drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Bletchingdon
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
- 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