Oxfordshire · England
Paella Catering for West Hendred events
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across West Hendred and Oxfordshire, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Summer garden parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Leaving dos and retirements
Book paella catering in West Hendred
Live paella in West Hendred: local details
West Hendred is about 3 miles east of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. From the centre of West Hendred to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in all 443 towns and villages across Oxfordshire. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 12 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of the Holy Trinity, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as The Hendreds Church of England School, can book us as a food stall. The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is within about 8 miles of West Hendred. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in OX12, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on Bankside, The Greenway and The Millham or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside West Hendred, we also cover East Hendred (1 mile east), Ardington (1 mile west), East Lockinge (1 mile south-west), Rowstock (2 miles east) and West Ilsley (4 miles south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Oxford (12 miles north-east), Didcot (5 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (6 miles north-east), Witney (14 miles north-west), Wantage (3 miles west) and Grove (3 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Abingdon Community Hospital (5.5 miles north-east) and Atlas Computer Laboratory (2.2 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include Chain Hill and Mowbray Fields.
- Nearby, you will find The Hare pub (under half a mile north)
How our paella catering works in West Hendred
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food is served hot. That’s why it works for so many events. On the menu are vegetable paella, vegan paella and seafood paella, and we’re frequently booked for retirement celebrations and big birthdays.
For a rural spot like West Hendred, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- West Hendred (OX12)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
Paella compared with other options
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in West Hendred
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Questions from West Hendred
Is West Hendred close to London?
About 55 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of the Holy Trinity?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
How do you work out quantities?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Which paella is most popular?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
What is live paella catering?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evenings in West Hendred 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Ask for a quote
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Towns and villages near West Hendred
What else we do in West Hendred
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Mention any other courses or food
- Confirm allergies by email
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Occasions we cook for in West Hendred
There is no kitchen needed, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Whatever you are celebrating in West Hendred, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Summer garden parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Engagement and anniversary parties
For guests coming by train, Didcot Parkway station is about 4.9 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- When payment is due
- Travel and parking costs
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- When final numbers are due
What affects the price in West Hendred
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
To check availability and price, we need:
- Expected numbers
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and time of the event
- What the venue already provides
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.
- 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