Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Drayton, Oxfordshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Drayton: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering in Drayton
Catering an event in Drayton
Drayton is about 3 miles south-west of Abingdon-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. Events in Drayton are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Drayton is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we cook. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 8 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Drayton Community Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Appleford station is about 3 miles away.
Wherever your event is in OX14, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your event is on High Street, Monk Close and Abbot Crescent or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Drayton, we cover Sutton Wick (1 mile north-east), Steventon (2 miles south), Milton Heights (2 miles south), Marcham (2 miles north-west) and Milton Hill (2 miles south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Oxford (8 miles north-east), Didcot (4 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles north-east), Witney (12 miles north-west), Carterton (15 miles north-west) and Wantage (6 miles south-west).
A little further out are FitzHarris Castle (2.3 miles north-east) and Abingdon Community Hospital (1.7 miles north). Open spaces near Drayton include Dry Sandford Pit.
- Local schools include Larkmead School (2.2 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Red Lion pub (within half a mile west)
About our paella catering in Drayton
A couple of different pans covers everyone: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own. We’re frequently asked to cater garden parties and summer barbecues and anniversary celebrations, serving vegan paella, black rice and seafood paella.
There may be a hall or club near Drayton if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Location
- Drayton (OX14)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it works
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Around midsummer it stays light in Drayton until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
Drayton: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of Saint Peter?
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.
What’s the nearest station to Drayton for guests?
The closest is Appleford station, roughly 3 miles away.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How many staff you need
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The courses you’d like
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
Planning paella catering in Drayton? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we usually call guests over.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, 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. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Who books paella catering in Drayton?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Drayton book us for events such as:
- Retirement celebrations
- Milestone birthday parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Office lunches and staff parties
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of Saint Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before booking anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the price includes, item by item
- When final numbers are due
- Whether travel is included
More for events in Drayton
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo 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