Buckinghamshire · England
Paella Catering for North Lee events
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in North Lee and across Buckinghamshire.
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Christenings and family gatherings
Book paella catering in North Lee
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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.
Paella catering in North Lee, cooked live
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. That’s why it works for so many events. Typical bookings include weddings, from canapés to evening food and christenings and family gatherings, with vegan paella, paella Valenciana and black rice.
In a small place like North Lee, 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 a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated.
- Location
- North Lee (HP22)
- Area hub
- Buckinghamshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Step by step
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in North Lee until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally 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 the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Get a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Your questions about paella catering in North Lee
How far is North Lee from London?
About 36 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
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 usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, including Buckinghamshire. See all areas.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Organising for someone else?
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
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.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Tell us how many children are coming
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Why choose live paella in North Lee?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
Why us?
- Catering across Buckinghamshire, including North Lee
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Served hot, straight from the pan
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Space, weather and the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The number of people
- The paellas you choose
- Waiting and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Towns and villages near North Lee
Also in North Lee
North Lee: venues, travel and local tips
North Lee is about 3 miles south of Aylesbury, in Buckinghamshire. For an event in North Lee, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. North Lee is one of 263 towns and villages in Buckinghamshire we cover. Our nearest city page is Milton Keynes, about 18 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Stoke Mandeville Combined School, can book us as a food stall. If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. North Lee is within about 3 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cater events across the HP22 postcode area. For events just outside North Lee, we cover Nash Lee (1 mile south-east), Terrick (1 mile south-east), Chalkshire (1 mile south-east), Stoke Mandeville (1 mile north-east) and Ellesborough (1 mile south). We also cook in nearby towns such as Aylesbury (3 miles north), High Wycombe (10 miles south), Chesham (9 miles south-east), Marlow (14 miles south), Amersham (11 miles south-east) and Beaconsfield (13 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find National Paralympic Heritage Centre (1.9 miles north) and Little Kimble Motte (1.7 miles south). Not far away are Brush Hill Local Nature Reserve and Beacon Hill.
- Schools near North Lee include The Mandeville School (1.9 miles north-west)
- 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