Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering for Upper Basildon events
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Upper Basildon.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering near Upper Basildon
Why choose live paella in Upper Basildon?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
Why book with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
- We cover Upper Basildon and the whole of Oxfordshire
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
How our paella catering works in Upper Basildon
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. On the menu are paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella, and typical bookings are for staff parties and work lunches and anniversaries and engagement parties.
Somewhere like Upper Basildon, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- Upper Basildon (RG8)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning live paella in Upper Basildon
Upper Basildon is about 7 miles north-east of Thatcham, in Oxfordshire. Give us the address of your event in Upper Basildon, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cook in all 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire. Our nearest city page is Reading, about 8 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Stephen's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Basildon C.E. Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Upper Basildon is within about 5 miles of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cater events across the RG8 postcode area and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Aldworth Road, Beckfords and Emery Acres. For events just outside Upper Basildon, we cover New Town (1 mile south-east), Stubbles (1 mile west), Ashampstead (2 miles west), Ashampstead Green (2 miles west) and Burnt Hill (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (15 miles north-west), Wantage (14 miles north-west), Henley-on-Thames (11 miles east), Grove (15 miles north-west) and Benson (10 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Yattendon Castle (2.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hartslock.
- Nearby schools include St Andrew's School (1.4 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Red Lion pub (under half a mile south-east)
Step by step
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evenings in Upper Basildon 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Upper Basildon? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Upper Basildon: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Stephen's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Upper Basildon from London?
About 45 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Upper Basildon.
How does live paella catering work?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
How much does paella catering cost in Upper Basildon?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
Why choose paella catering in Upper Basildon?
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Office lunches and staff parties
Historic houses near Upper Basildon include Basildon Park (1.4 miles north-east) and Mapledurham House (4.7 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- VAT, if it applies
- The venue requirements
- The wet-weather plan
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Places near Upper Basildon
What else we do in Upper Basildon
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
- 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