Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Chalgrove, Oxfordshire
Looking for paella catering in Chalgrove? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering for Chalgrove events
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Paella catering in Chalgrove, cooked live
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it’s served straight from the pan. We cook paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and seafood paella, and we’re often booked for weddings and evening receptions and big birthdays.
For a place the size of Chalgrove, your own garden is frequently the best venue: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Location
- Chalgrove (OX44)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Organising for someone else?
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll talk you through the process. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Space, weather and the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Chalgrove
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Guest numbers
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
- How long we’re needed on site
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Where the event is
- The date and time of the event
- The courses you’d like
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Also near Chalgrove
What else we do in Chalgrove
Chalgrove: venues, travel and local tips
Chalgrove is about 7 miles south-west of Thame, in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Chalgrove, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Chalgrove. We cater in 443 places across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Oxford, about 9 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chalgrove Community Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Chalgrove, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cover events in every part of the OX44 postcode area. From High Street, Chapel Lane and The Green or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Main roads around Chalgrove include the B480, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. For events just outside Chalgrove, we cover Brightwell Baldwin (2 miles south-east), Roke (2 miles south), Britwell Salome (3 miles south-east), Pyrton (3 miles east) and Watlington (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Oxford (9 miles north-west), Didcot (8 miles south-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (9 miles west), Thame (7 miles north-east), Henley-on-Thames (12 miles south-east) and Grove (15 miles west).
A little further out are Wallingford Castle (4.8 miles south) and Aston Martin Heritage Trust Museum (2.5 miles west). The countryside around Chalgrove includes Wells Farm.
- Nearby, you will find The Red Lion Public House (less than half a mile west)
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Planning an evening event in Chalgrove? 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Read more
Who books paella catering in Chalgrove?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Chalgrove:
- Garden get-togethers
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings and evening receptions
Historic houses near Chalgrove include Adwell House (4 miles north-east) and Garsington Manor (4.6 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Questions to ask before you book
- Space, access and power needs
- VAT, if it applies
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Why live cooking beats a buffet
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. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why choose Love Paella in Chalgrove
- Fast service from the pan
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It is the pan people photograph.
Your questions about paella catering in Chalgrove
How far is Chalgrove from London?
Roughly 44 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
- 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