Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Roke, Oxfordshire
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Roke and across Oxfordshire.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Milestone birthday parties
Live paella catering in Roke
About our paella catering in Roke
Paella is generous food: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. We cook mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for summer garden parties and milestone birthday parties.
In a rural place like Roke, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Roke (OX10)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning live paella in Roke
Roke is about 7 miles east of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Roke, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Roke. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 10 miles away.
Historic houses near Roke include Brightwell Manor (3.4 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Benson Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Roke is within about 6 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in OX10, we can bring paella catering to you. We also cook at events in Ewelme (2 miles south-east), Brightwell Baldwin (2 miles north-east), Chalgrove (2 miles north), Britwell Salome (3 miles east) and Watlington (4 miles east). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (10 miles north-west), Didcot (7 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles west), Thame (9 miles north-east), Wantage (14 miles west) and Henley-on-Thames (11 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Aston Martin Heritage Trust Museum (2.4 miles north-west) and Wallingford Castle (2.5 miles south-west). Open spaces near Roke include Wittenham Clumps and Ewelme Watercress Beds.
- Schools near Roke include Wallingford School (2.5 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include Home Sweet Home pub (under half a mile north-east)
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Perfect for your event in Roke
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Naming days and family parties
- Community events and fairs
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Helen, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Before booking anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- How late numbers can change
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- If the price includes VAT
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Common questions in Roke
Can you cook at venues in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Helen: 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 typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Are premium seafood options available?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu.
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. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Other catering in Roke
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Step by step
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Evenings in Roke stay light until about 9:25pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:10pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Get a quote
Planning paella catering in Roke? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
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. The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Roke hosts choose us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Fast service from the pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Events in Roke and across Oxfordshire
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Confirm allergies by email
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Have seats for most of your guests
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we usually call guests over.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or serve your own cake.
- 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