Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Shellingford, Oxfordshire
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Shellingford and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Birthday celebrations
Book paella catering in Shellingford
Common questions in Shellingford
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Faith?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Is Shellingford too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Paella catering in Shellingford, cooked live
There is something generous about paella: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. We are frequently asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and office lunches and staff parties, with mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice.
In a hamlet or village like Shellingford, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Where
- Shellingford (SN7)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Guest numbers
- Travel, parking and access
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- What the venue already provides
- The venue or postcode
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Shellingford? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. In Shellingford, the sun sets at about 9:30pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
Paella compared with other options
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Live paella in Shellingford: local details
Shellingford is about 6 miles north-west of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Shellingford. Shellingford is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook. You can also see our page for Oxford, about 15 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Shellingford Church of England (Voluntary Aided) School, can book us as a food stall.
Wherever your event is in SN7, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as Church Street and Fernham Road. Other places close to Shellingford for paella catering include Stanford in the Vale (1 mile east), Hatford (2 miles north-east), Baulking (2 miles south), Bow (2 miles east) and Fernham (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Oxford (15 miles north-east), Didcot (13 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (11 miles east), Witney (10 miles north), Carterton (9 miles north) and Wantage (6 miles south-east).
A little further out are Faringdon Castle (1.9 miles north-west) and Faringdon Museum (2.2 miles north-west). Not far away are Badbury Hill.
- Nearby schools include Faringdon Community College (2.2 miles west)
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Sangria and bar staff can be added for your own drinks.
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
More for events in Shellingford
- 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