Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Shiplake Cross, Oxfordshire
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Shiplake Cross.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Planning an event in Shiplake Cross?
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Paella catering in Shiplake Cross, made fresh on the day
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. For naming days and family parties and garden get-togethers, we can cook black rice, seafood paella and vegetable paella for your guests.
Somewhere as small as Shiplake Cross, a garden or field is often the venue. 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. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Shiplake Cross (RG9)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
How it 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. In Shiplake Cross, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
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Places near Shiplake Cross
More for events in Shiplake Cross
What affects the price in Shiplake Cross
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and rough timings
- Where the event is
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Events we cater in Shiplake Cross
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Summer garden parties
Nearby historic houses include Greys Court (3.8 miles north-west) and Greenlands (4.4 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When final numbers are due
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Live paella in Shiplake Cross: local details
Shiplake Cross is about 3 miles north-east of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. For paella catering in Shiplake Cross, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire.
For guests coming by train, Shiplake station is about 1.1 miles away. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Here we cover the RG9 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Memorial Avenue, Plowden Way and Orchard Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Shiplake Cross, we also cover Binfield Heath (1 mile west), Harpsden (1 mile north), Harpsden Bottom (2 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (2 miles north) and Sonning Common (4 miles west). Larger places within reach include Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (6 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles south-west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
A little further out are Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.3 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2 miles north). Open spaces near Shiplake Cross include Sonning Hill and South Lake.
- Schools near Shiplake Cross include Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School (1.5 miles south-east) and The Piggott School (1.5 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Plough pub (less than half a mile south-east)
Common questions in Shiplake Cross
Is Shiplake Cross close to London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Shiplake Cross?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What equipment do you bring?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
Do you cover Shiplake Cross?
We do. We cook at events in Shiplake Cross and across Oxfordshire. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. There is 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. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A clear, itemised quote
Where we can cook in Shiplake Cross
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we normally call guests over.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
- 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