West Berkshire · England
Paella Catering in Great Shefford
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Great Shefford.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Company summer parties
Book paella catering in Great Shefford
Paella catering for your event in Great Shefford
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and we’re often booked for wedding breakfasts and evening food and christenings and family gatherings.
In a rural place like Great Shefford, the setting does plenty of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Great Shefford (RG17)
- Region
- West Berkshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
Nearby places to Great Shefford
Also in Great Shefford
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you’re free to enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. In Great Shefford, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You share 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.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
How to get a price
Send us the date, your venue or RG17 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Read more
Catering an event in Great Shefford
Great Shefford is about 8 miles north-west of Newbury, in West Berkshire. For paella catering in Great Shefford, we plan around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 155 places in West Berkshire. You can also see our page for Reading, about 20 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. Great Shefford is within about 5 miles of the North Wessex Downs 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 RG17 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Station Road, The Mead and Miller's Field or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Great Shefford, we also cover East Shefford (1 mile south-east), Weston (1 mile south-east), East Garston (2 miles north-west), Shefford Woodlands (2 miles south-west) and East Garston Woodlands (2 miles west). Larger places within reach include Newbury (8 miles south-east), Thatcham (10 miles south-east), Speenhamland (7 miles south-east), Hungerford (5 miles south-west), Lambourn (4 miles north-west) and Shaw (7 miles south-east).
Green spaces nearby include Sole Common Pond.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Great Shefford. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What you get with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
What paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- How long we are needed on site
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.
Details that help
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The courses you’d like
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
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.
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Great Shefford questions
Can you cook at venues in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is Great Shefford too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
What space do you need to cook?
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.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
What does paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Occasions we cook for in Great Shefford
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
In Great Shefford and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Community events and fairs
- Milestone birthday parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Shefford C.E. Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- A clear list of what’s included
- Space, access and power needs
- When final numbers are due
- Staff numbers and hours
- 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