West Berkshire · England
Paella Catering for Woodlands St Mary events
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Woodlands St Mary: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Company summer parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Woodlands St Mary
Paella catering for your event in Woodlands St Mary
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We’ll recommend what fits your event. We cook vegan paella, mixed paella and black rice, and typical bookings are for naming days and family parties and weddings and evening receptions.
In a rural place like Woodlands St Mary, the setting does plenty of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Where
- Woodlands St Mary (RG17)
- County
- West Berkshire
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Who books paella catering in Woodlands St Mary?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Woodlands St Mary:
- Retirement celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Summer garden parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hungerford station, about 3.9 miles south.
What your quote should include
- Travel and parking costs
- When final numbers are due
- How bad weather is handled
- How long the team stays
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Around midsummer it stays light in Woodlands St Mary until about 9:25pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:10pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest 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 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.
How to prepare
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Get a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your event in Woodlands St Mary, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why Woodlands St Mary hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Catering across West Berkshire, including Woodlands St Mary
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Towns and villages near Woodlands St Mary
Also in Woodlands St Mary
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Confirm allergies by email
- Tell us how many children are coming
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we normally call guests over.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Woodlands St Mary: your questions answered
Is Woodlands St Mary too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at St Mary's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Do you cater in Woodlands St Mary?
We do. We cook at events in Woodlands St Mary and across West Berkshire. Send us your date to check availability.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Do you cook inside?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Woodlands St Mary: venues, travel and local tips
Woodlands St Mary is about 9 miles south-west of Wantage, in West Berkshire. For paella catering in Woodlands St Mary, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in 155 places in West Berkshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Oxford, about 23 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Mary's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The North Wessex Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Woodlands St Mary. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over RG17. That could mean an event in a garden on Ermin Street and Stony Lane. For events just outside Woodlands St Mary, we cover Lambourn Woodlands (1 mile north-west), Chilton Foliat (3 miles south), Leverton (3 miles south), Upper Eddington (3 miles south) and Eddington (4 miles south). Larger places within reach include Newbury (10 miles south-east), Thatcham (12 miles south-east), Speenhamland (9 miles south-east), Lambourn (3 miles north), Shaw (10 miles south-east) and Kingsclere (15 miles south-east).
Not far away are Watts Bank.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Mixed 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