Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering in Northend
Looking for paella catering in Northend? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Summer garden parties
Live paella catering in Northend
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How our paella catering works in Northend
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That is what we bring to events in Northend. We are often asked to cater anniversaries and engagement parties and garden parties and summer barbecues, with chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and black rice.
In a hamlet or village like Northend, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Where
- Northend (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Nearby places to Northend
Also in Northend
Paella compared with other options
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Northend hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A clear, itemised quote
Take a look at How we price Or The cost guide.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
FAQs for Northend
Is Northend close to London?
About 37 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook at venues in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- The paellas you choose
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- How long we’re needed on site
- Distance and access to the venue
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Where the event is
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Put allergy details in writing
Paella is best eaten as soon as it is ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Paella catering around Northend
Northend is about 8 miles north-west of Marlow, in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Northend, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cook in all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire. Our events stretch from Northend to Reading (12 miles away).
Northend is within about 2 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in RG9, we plan around your venue and timings. For events just outside Northend, we cover Christmas Common (1 mile west), Turville Heath (1 mile south-east), Ibstone (1 mile north-east), Stonor (2 miles south) and Howe Hill (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (15 miles north-west), Didcot (13 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles west), Thame (8 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (7 miles south) and Benson (7 miles west).
Open spaces near Northend include Bald Hill and Aston Rowant NNR.
Perfect for your event in Northend
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Northend:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
- Summer garden parties
- Birthday celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Stonor Park (2.1 miles south) and Adwell House (5 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- How each diet is kept separate
- What the price includes, item by item
- Space, access and power needs
- When payment is due
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Planning an evening event in Northend? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:25pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- 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.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- 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