Buckinghamshire · England
Paella Catering for Chesham events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Chesham. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden get-togethers
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering in Chesham
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It’s frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella catering in Chesham, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We’re often asked to cater anniversary celebrations and christenings and family gatherings, serving mixed paella, black rice and paella Valenciana.
Most events in a town like Chesham are in gardens, halls with outdoor space or hired venues. Each works well, provided we can park nearby and cook on level ground. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Location
- Chesham (HP5)
- County
- Buckinghamshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Chesham
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Expected numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Live paella in Chesham: local details
Chesham is in Buckinghamshire. Whether your event is in the middle of Chesham or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Chesham is one of 263 towns and villages in Buckinghamshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Chesham to Milton Keynes (about 23 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Emmanuel, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Historic houses near Chesham include Cholesbury Manor House (3.5 miles north-west) and Chenies Manor House (4.3 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Chesham is within about 5 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in HP5, we plan around your venue. Local streets include High Street, Station Road and Sunnyside Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Chesham sits on or near the A416 and B485, which makes travel to your event easy. Other places close to Chesham for paella catering include Pond Park (1 mile north), Chartridge (2 miles north-west), Hundridge (2 miles west), Asheridge (2 miles north-west) and Bellingdon (2 miles north-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Aylesbury (11 miles north-west), High Wycombe (8 miles south-west), Marlow (12 miles south-west), Amersham (3 miles south), Beaconsfield (7 miles south) and Chalfont St Peter (8 miles south). Being one of Buckinghamshire’s larger places, Chesham has lots of places to hold an event.
A little further out are Amersham Hospital (3.4 miles south) and Hawridge Court (2.2 miles north). The countryside around Chesham includes Sands Bank.
- Schools near Chesham include Chiltern Hills Academy (0.5 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find The Jolly Sportsman pub (within half a mile east)
Nearby places to Chesham
What else we do in Chesham
Step by step
Here’s how the day normally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan when you’re ready to eat. Around midsummer it stays light in Chesham until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, 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.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear 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
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Your questions about paella catering in Chesham
How far is Chesham from London?
About 27 miles from central London.
We are having a ceremony at Emmanuel: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes, that is what it is made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
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.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Request clear labels at the serving table
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Where we can cook in Chesham
We’ll be honest if a space will not work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Events we cater in Chesham
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Community events and fairs
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Company summer parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Elmtree Infant and Nursery School, can book us as a food stall.
Before booking anyone
- Who provides the crockery
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The wet-weather plan
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- 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