A giant pan of seafood paella with mussels and prawns cooking over a burner

Oxfordshire · England

Paella Catering for Christmas Common events

Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Christmas Common: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.

Retirement celebrations
Garden get-togethers
Weddings and evening receptions

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Planning an event in Christmas Common?

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The menu, dish by dish

Paella Valenciana

In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.

Seafood paella

The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.

How our paella catering works in Christmas Common

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. Whether it’s christenings and family gatherings and festivals, fairs and school events, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, vegan paella and mixed paella for your guests.

Somewhere like Christmas Common, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.

A pan of seafood paella next to a knife and fork

Location: Christmas Common (OX49)
Region: Oxfordshire
Diets: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
Also available: Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
Quotes: Contact us for a quote
Last updated: 23 October 2026

Should I cook it myself?

You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.

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.

Paella catering around Christmas Common

Christmas Common is about 8 miles south of Thame, in Oxfordshire. Tell us where your event in Christmas Common will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cover all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire. We cook right across the region, from Christmas Common to Reading (about 13 miles away).

If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Icknield Community College, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Historic houses near Christmas Common include Stonor Park (2.9 miles south-east) and Adwell House (4.2 miles north). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Christmas Common is within about a mile 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.

Here we cover the OX49 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Northend (1 mile east), Howe Hill (1 mile south-west), Shirburn (2 miles north-west), Cookley Green (2 miles south-west) and Ibstone (2 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (14 miles north-west), Didcot (12 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles west), Thame (8 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles south) and Benson (6 miles west).

Open spaces near Christmas Common include Bald Hill and Aston Rowant NNR.

Pubs nearby include Fox And Hounds Inn Public House (under half a mile north-west)

Map of Christmas Common © OpenStreetMap contributors

Organising for someone else?

If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.

Organising a club, school or community event in Christmas Common? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.

Occasions we cook for in Christmas Common

Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.

Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:

Engagement and anniversary parties
Retirement celebrations
Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Christenings and family gatherings

If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of the Nativity, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.

Comparing caterers

How bad weather is handled
What the price includes, item by item
Staff numbers and hours
How dietary needs and allergies are handled

How to compare caterers

What affects the price in Christmas Common

Every event is priced individually, and the price depends on a few things:

Whether you need crockery
How many staff you need
Guest numbers
Your choice of paellas

Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.

What we need to know

You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:

A picture of where we’d cook
The date and rough timings
Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Whether the venue has crockery or staff

We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.

How it works

The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Planning an evening event in Christmas Common? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.

You share your date, numbers and venue.
We plan a menu that covers every diet.
We arrive in good time to set up.
The paella cooks as guests gather round.
Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.

How to prepare

Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Give us a contact for the day
Have a level space ready for the pans

Getting a price

Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.

Ask for a quote

Related guides

12 questions to ask a paella caterer before you book

Questions from Christmas Common

Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of the Nativity?

Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.

How far is Christmas Common from London?

Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.

What seafood can we have?

We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.

How long does the paella take?

It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.

Who clears up?

Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.

Can you do gluten-free paella?

A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.

Is paella a full meal?

It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.

Can you cater for children?

Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.

Catering for every guest

Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:

Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
Request clear labels at the serving table
Mention any other courses or food
Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice

Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we generally call guests over.

Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.

Why choose live paella in Christmas Common?

A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.