Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering for Charlton-on-Otmoor events
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Charlton-on-Otmoor.
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Live paella catering in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Where we can cook in Charlton-on-Otmoor
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
Paella catering for your event in Charlton-on-Otmoor
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. Typical bookings include weddings and evening receptions and milestone birthday parties, serving mixed paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana.
Somewhere as small as Charlton-on-Otmoor, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Area
- Charlton-on-Otmoor (OX5)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
Places near Charlton-on-Otmoor
What else we do in Charlton-on-Otmoor
Paella compared with other options
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, thanks to separate pans. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why book with us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Charlton-on-Otmoor
- Drinks service on request
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Charlton-on-Otmoor questions
Is Charlton-on-Otmoor 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 the Virgin?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
What does paella catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, Oxfordshire included. See all areas.
What affects the price in Charlton-on-Otmoor
These are the factors that matter most:
- Timings and hours
- The number of people
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many staff you need
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Which courses you have in mind
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Who books paella catering in Charlton-on-Otmoor?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Charlton-on-Otmoor and Oxfordshire:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Summer garden parties
- Naming days and family parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Charlton-on-Otmoor Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before booking
- Staff numbers and hours
- The venue requirements
- How late numbers can change
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Charlton-on-Otmoor: venues, travel and local tips
Charlton-on-Otmoor is about 5 miles south of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Charlton-on-Otmoor. Charlton-on-Otmoor is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Charlton-on-Otmoor to Oxford (6 miles away).
Historic houses near Charlton-on-Otmoor include Boarstall Tower (4 miles east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For guests coming by train, Islip station is about 2.3 miles away.
Anywhere in OX5, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on High Street, Blacksmiths Lane and Church Lane or the roads around them. For events just outside Charlton-on-Otmoor, we cover Fencott (1 mile east), Murcott (1 mile east), Merton (1 mile north-east), Wendlebury (2 miles north) and Horton-cum-Studley (3 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (6 miles south), Bicester (5 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (12 miles south), Witney (13 miles west), Thame (11 miles south-east) and Kidlington (4 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Bicester Community Hospital (4.2 miles north) and Bicester Avenue (3.6 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Graven Hill and Otmoor RSPB reserve.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Crown pub (within half a mile east)
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Have seats for most of your guests
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
How the day works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. In Charlton-on-Otmoor, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
How to get a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
- 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