Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Hardwick, Oxfordshire
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 turns food into part of your event in Hardwick.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Book paella catering in Hardwick
About our paella catering in Hardwick
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We’ll recommend what fits your event. Whether it’s weddings, from canapés to evening food and retirement and leaving parties, we can cook vegetable paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella and more.
Somewhere as small as Hardwick, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Where
- Hardwick (OX29)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Places near Hardwick
Also in Hardwick
Catering an event in Hardwick
Hardwick is about 3 miles south-east of Witney, in Oxfordshire. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Hardwick. We cook in 443 places in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 9 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX29, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. You’ll find Hardwick on the B4449, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Hardwick, we also cover Brighthampton (2 miles south), Ducklington (2 miles north-west), Standlake (2 miles south-east), High Cogges (2 miles north) and South Leigh (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (9 miles east), Didcot (13 miles south-east), Abingdon-on-Thames (9 miles south-east), Witney (3 miles north-west), Carterton (6 miles west) and Wantage (11 miles south).
A little further out are Hinton Waldrist Castle (4.2 miles south) and Cogges Manor Farm Museum (2.6 miles north-west).
Where we can cook in Hardwick
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Live paella or other catering?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why Hardwick hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- A quote that spells everything out
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
The process
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Around midsummer it stays light in Hardwick until about 9:30pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or OX29 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Hardwick: your questions answered
How far is Hardwick from London?
About 61 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is Hardwick too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Is the paella gluten-free?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you are ready to eat.
How we price paella catering
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Travel, parking and access
- How many courses
- The number of people
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The venue or postcode
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
- 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