Slough · England
Paella Catering for Longford events
Planning paella catering in Longford? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Staff parties and work lunches
Planning an event in Longford?
How our paella catering works in Longford
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it is served straight from the pan. For wedding breakfasts and evening food and office lunches and staff parties, we will put together a menu of black rice, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
In a rural place like Longford, the setting does a lot of the work: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Places near Longford
Also in Longford
Planning for every diet
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Put allergy details in writing
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
How it works
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. Evenings in Longford stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Perfect for your event in Longford
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
In Longford and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
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.
What to look for in a quote
- Whether travel is included
- Staff numbers and hours
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- What happens if it rains
Where we can cook in Longford
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It is normally the most photographed pan.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Planning live paella in Longford
Longford is about 2 miles south-west of West Drayton, in Slough. Wherever your event is in the SL3 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 31 places across Slough, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Longford to Guildford (about 16 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Historic houses near Longford include Frogmore House (4.3 miles west) and Windsor Castle (4.8 miles west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
We cover events in every part of SL3, UB7 and TW6 and the streets around it. Local streets include Wallis Road, Widgeon Road and Stanwell Moor Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Longford is on the A3044, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Longford, we cover Harmondsworth (1 mile north-east), Stanwell (2 miles south-east), Heathrow (2 miles east), Sipson (2 miles north-east) and West Bedfont (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Slough (6 miles north-west), Cippenham (7 miles north-west), Chalvey (5 miles west), Britwell (7 miles north-west), Langley (3 miles north-west) and Upton (5 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Windsor Castle (4.8 miles west) and Harlington (2.1 miles north-east). The countryside around Longford includes Crane Meadows and Staines Reservoirs.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Kings Arms (within half a mile north-east)
Longford: your questions answered
Do you come out to small places like Longford?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Mary: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What about pudding?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Is paella a full meal?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in Longford? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Timings and hours
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Diets and allergies you know about
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start 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