Oxfordshire · England
Paella party catering in Appleford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Looking for paella party catering in Appleford-on-Thames? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Naming days and christenings
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Book paella party catering in Appleford-on-Thames
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
On the menu in Appleford-on-Thames
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Paella party catering in Appleford-on-Thames, cooked live
Tapas first, churros after and sangria throughout, and the party menu is complete. Typical bookings include naming days and christenings and celebrations of life, with vegetable paella, seafood paella and mixed paella.
A country party near Appleford-on-Thames is perfect for paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Location
- Appleford-on-Thames (OX14)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
FAQs for Appleford-on-Thames
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Peter and St Paul: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What’s the nearest station to Appleford-on-Thames for guests?
Appleford-on-Thames has its own station: Appleford station.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Do you bring plates and cutlery?
If you need them. Proper crockery or good-quality disposables can be added.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Distance and access to the venue
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Waiting and bar staff
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs and allergies
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Ordering in is easy but forgettable. Live paella is something guests remember. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Appleford-on-Thames hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Why choose paella party catering in Appleford-on-Thames?
It brings a bit of holiday feeling to a garden party.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Appleford-on-Thames, people book us for events such as:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Milestone birthdays
- Baby celebrations
- Anniversary celebrations
For guests coming by train, Appleford-on-Thames has its own station, Appleford station.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- Staff numbers and hours
- Allergen information for each dish
- What happens if it rains
Parties in Appleford-on-Thames: gardens, venues and local tips
Appleford-on-Thames is about 2 miles north of Didcot, in Oxfordshire. Parties in Appleford-on-Thames are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Appleford-on-Thames is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Appleford-on-Thames to Oxford (about 8 miles away).
After a christening at a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends. Historic houses near Appleford-on-Thames include Clifton Hampden Manor (1.9 miles north-east) and Brightwell Manor (3.7 miles south-east). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler.
Wherever your party is in OX14, we can bring paella party catering to you. Local streets include Chambrai Close, Church Street and Main Road; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Close by, we cover parties in Long Wittenham (1 mile east), Culham (1 mile north-west), Sutton Courtenay (2 miles west), Clifton Hampden (2 miles north-east) and Didcot (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (8 miles north), Abingdon-on-Thames (3 miles north-west), Witney (15 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north-east), Wantage (8 miles south-west) and Grove (8 miles west).
A little further out are Pendon Museum (1 mile east) and FitzHarris Castle (3.1 miles north-west). Open spaces near Appleford-on-Thames include Mowbray Fields and Wittenham Clumps.
- Nearby, you will find Carpenters Arms (within half a mile south-east)
Places near Appleford-on-Thames
What else we do in Appleford-on-Thames
Step by step
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. Sunset in Appleford-on-Thames is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:25pm in late June. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- We check your date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- We set up the burners and start the sofrito.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Plan cover in case of rain
Get a quote
Planning paella party catering in Appleford-on-Thames? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
- Arrange a gazebo in case of rain
- Have enough chairs for most guests
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll help serve and clear so you can relax.
Churros and chocolate go down well with all ages.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
Seafood paella usually gets the photos, and is best served with lemon.
Churros
Fried, sugared and dipped in chocolate, a sweet finish.
- 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