Buckinghamshire · England
Paella Catering for Thorney events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Thorney: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering for Thorney events
Paella catering for your event in Thorney
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That’s what we bring to events in Thorney. Whether it’s birthday celebrations and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we will put together a menu of paella Valenciana, vegan paella and mixed paella and more.
In a hamlet or village like Thorney, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Thorney (SL0)
- County
- Buckinghamshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Thorney
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
Send us the date, your venue or SL0 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
About the dishes
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Questions from Thorney
Do you come out to small places like Thorney?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How far is Thorney from London?
Roughly 17 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, Buckinghamshire included. See all areas.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you cook indoors?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Is live paella right for your event?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Mention any other courses or food
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
For event organisers in Thorney
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Also near Thorney
Other catering in Thorney
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Around midsummer it stays light in Thorney until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Live paella in Thorney: local details
Thorney is about 3 miles south-west of Hillingdon, in Buckinghamshire. We bring paella catering to homes, gardens and venues in Thorney and nearby villages. We cater in 263 places across Buckinghamshire. Our events stretch from Thorney to London (about 17 miles away).
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Iver station, about 0.7 miles north-west. Nearby historic houses include Ickenham Hall (4.6 miles north-east) and Frogmore House (4.9 miles south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Wherever your event is in SL0, we can cook for your guests. Other places close to Thorney for paella catering include West Drayton (1 mile east), Yiewsley (1 mile north-east), Cowley (2 miles north), Uxbridge (3 miles north) and Hillingdon (3 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as High Wycombe (14 miles north-west), Chesham (15 miles north), Marlow (13 miles west), Amersham (13 miles north), Beaconsfield (10 miles north-west) and Chalfont St Peter (8 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include The Pavilions (3 miles north) and Hillingdon Hospital (2 miles north-east). Not far away are Uxbridge Moor and Staines Reservoirs.
- Local schools include Stockley Academy (1.7 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The North Star pub (less than half a mile west)
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
- 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