Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Horley, Oxfordshire
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Horley and Oxfordshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering near Horley
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s usually the most photographed pan.
Paella catering in Horley, 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. Whether it is milestone birthday parties and retirement celebrations, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, seafood paella and vegan paella for your guests.
In a small place like Horley, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Horley (OX15)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
On the menu in Horley
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Other catering in Horley
Why choose paella catering in Horley?
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Horley and Oxfordshire:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement celebrations
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Naming days and family parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as North Oxfordshire Academy, can book us as a food stall.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- When payment is due
- Space, access and power needs
- How long the team stays
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Confirm allergies by email
- Count adults and children separately
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
The process
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Horley? Sunset is around 9:00pm in late May, 9:30pm at midsummer and 7:10pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
It’s easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Planners, venues and businesses
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
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.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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.
Live paella in Horley: local details
Horley is about 3 miles north-west of Banbury, in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Horley, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in 443 places in Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 25 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Ethelreda, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Nearby historic houses include Upton House (3.2 miles west) and Farnborough Hall (3.2 miles north). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX15. Whether your event is on Manor Orchard and Little Lane or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Wroxton (1 mile south), Drayton (2 miles south-east), Neithrop (3 miles south-east) and Ruscote (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Banbury (3 miles south-east), Chipping Norton (12 miles south-west), Grimsbury (4 miles south-east), Bloxham (5 miles south), Bodicote (5 miles south-east) and Upper Heyford (13 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Horton General Hospital (3.6 miles south-east) and Castle Quay Shopping Centre (3.2 miles south-east). Open spaces near Horley include Crouch Hill.
- Local pubs include Red Lion pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Horley: your questions answered
Is Horley close to London?
About 69 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Which station should guests use for Horley?
The closest is Banbury station, roughly 3.5 miles away.
How much does paella catering cost in Horley?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
What is live paella catering?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Yes. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Which paella is most popular?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is usually the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
How we price paella catering
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
These details help us quote quickly:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
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.
- 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