Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering in Kencot
Looking for paella catering in Kencot? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Big birthdays
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering near Kencot
How our paella catering works in Kencot
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. Whether it’s garden get-togethers and christenings and family gatherings, we’ll put together a menu of black rice, seafood paella and paella Valenciana for your guests.
In a small place like Kencot, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Where
- Kencot (OX18)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
FAQs for Kencot
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Peter?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you come out to small places like Kencot?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Around midsummer it stays light in Kencot until about 9:30pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you’re ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Fast service from the pan
- We cover Kencot and the whole of Oxfordshire
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Events we cater in Kencot
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Community events and fairs
- Retirement celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Engagement and anniversary parties
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- Travel and parking costs
- Allergen information for each dish
- The venue requirements
- The deadline for final numbers
What else we do in Kencot
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Mention any other courses or food
- Confirm allergies by email
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Live paella in Kencot: local details
Kencot is about 2 miles south-west of Carterton, in Oxfordshire. Across the OX18 area, we’ll come to your venue or garden. Kencot is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 16 miles away.
Historic houses near Kencot include Kelmscott Manor (4 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Peter's Church of England School, can book us as a food stall.
For paella catering in OX18, we plan around your venue. Close by, we cover events in Alvescot (1 mile south-east), Shilton (2 miles north) and Bradwell (3 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles east), Witney (6 miles north-east), Wantage (13 miles south-east), Grove (12 miles south-east), Faringdon (6 miles south) and Kidlington (15 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Swinford Museum (1.9 miles west) and Longworth Hospital (5.9 miles south).
- Local schools include Carterton Community College (1.6 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Plough pub (under half a mile south-east)
Before you choose a spot
We will be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The number of people
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Starters, canapés and desserts
There is 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.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The venue or postcode
- The date and rough timings
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, fill in 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