Oxfordshire · England
Live paella catering in Wallingford, Oxfordshire
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Wallingford.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Community events and fairs
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering in Wallingford
Perfect for your event in Wallingford
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Festivals, fairs and school events
For guests coming by train, Cholsey station is about 2.4 miles away.
Comparing caterers
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
- When final numbers are due
- Whether travel is included
How our paella catering works in Wallingford
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. On the menu are vegan paella, seafood paella and mixed paella, and we are regularly asked to cater staff parties and work lunches and engagement and anniversary parties.
There may be a hall or club near Wallingford if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Where
- Wallingford (OX10)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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’ll do the cooking.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Catering across Oxfordshire, including Wallingford
- Fast service from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
See Our pricing Or The cost guide.
How it works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. In Wallingford, the sun sets at about 9:25pm in late June and about 7:10pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s 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 paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Also near Wallingford
What else we do in Wallingford
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Send allergies to us in writing
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
We can add sangria and bar staff for your own drinks.
Wallingford: venues, travel and local tips
Wallingford is about 5 miles east of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Anywhere in OX10, we can cook for your guests. We cook in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Wallingford to Oxford (11 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Kinecroft? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Historic houses near Wallingford include Brightwell Manor (1.7 miles north-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Wallingford is within about 8 miles of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in OX10 is planned around your venue and timings. We can cater an event on streets such as Station Road, High Street and Hawthorn Close. Wallingford is on the A4130, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Other places close to Wallingford for paella catering include Preston Crowmarsh (1 mile north-east), Mackney (1 mile west), Brightwell-cum-Sotwell (2 miles north-west), Benson (2 miles north-east) and Shillingford (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Oxford (11 miles north-west), Didcot (5 miles west), Abingdon-on-Thames (8 miles north-west), Thame (12 miles north-east), Wantage (13 miles west) and Henley-on-Thames (11 miles south-east).
A little further out are Wallingford Castle (less than half a mile east). Green spaces nearby include Wittenham Clumps and Cholsey Marsh.
- Local schools include Wallingford School (within half a mile north-east) and Wallingford School (under half a mile north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Cross Keys Public House (less than half a mile east)
Common questions in Wallingford
Can you cook at venues in the North Wessex Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is Wallingford close to London?
About 45 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you cater in Wallingford?
We do. We cook at events in Wallingford and across Oxfordshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Do we need to provide equipment?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- 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