Buckinghamshire · England
Live paella catering in The City, Buckinghamshire
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in The City: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
- Christenings and family gatherings
Paella catering near The City
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
How our paella catering works in The City
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. For garden parties and summer barbecues and milestone birthday parties, we can cook vegan paella, seafood paella and mixed paella and more.
For a rural spot like The City, the countryside is part of the appeal: a giant pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Location
- The City (HP14)
- Region
- Buckinghamshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Also in The City
Paella compared with other options
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in The City. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Planning live paella in The City
The City is about 5 miles north-west of High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire. From the centre of The City to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. The City is one of 263 towns and villages in Buckinghamshire where we cook. Our events stretch from The City to Reading (about 15 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include West Wycombe Park House (2.7 miles south-east) and Hughenden Manor (4.4 miles east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Paul, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The City is within about 2 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
This part of Buckinghamshire takes in HP14, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Bottle Square Lane, Radnage Common Road and Green Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside The City, we cover Waterend (1 mile west), Beacon's Bottom (1 mile south-west), Radnage (1 mile north), Bennett End (1 mile north-west) and Green End (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include Aylesbury (11 miles north), High Wycombe (5 miles south-east), Chesham (11 miles east), Marlow (7 miles south-east), Amersham (11 miles east) and Beaconsfield (10 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include West Wycombe Rural (1.6 miles south-east) and Wycombe Hospital (5 miles south-east). The countryside around The City includes Yoesden and Bald Hill.
- Nearby, you will find The Crown pub (0.5 miles north-west)
Events we cater in The City
Live paella is made for outdoor events: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Here are some of the events we cook for:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Saunderton station, about 1.8 miles north-east.
Questions to ask before you book
- The venue requirements
- Allergen information for each dish
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Any travel, parking or access charges
The process
On the day, 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 The City 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Let us know the timings for the day
How to get a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
What affects the price in The City
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many guests are eating
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What to tell us
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and time of the event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The courses you’d like
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
For event organisers in The City
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Common questions in The City
Can you cook at venues in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is The City close to London?
About 35 miles from central London.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Which areas do you serve?
We cover London and the South East, including Buckinghamshire. See all areas.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so contact us early.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Should we have more than one paella?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Count adults and children separately
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
- 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