Oxfordshire · England
Paella Party Catering for Ardley events
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Ardley. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Big family gatherings
Planning an event in Ardley?
About our paella party catering in Ardley
Paella is relaxed food: it’s served from the pan and shared, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. Typical bookings include garden parties and summer barbecues and anniversaries and engagement parties, with vegetable paella, churros and chicken and chorizo paella.
Country parties near Ardley suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
- Where
- Ardley (OX27)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
Seafood paella normally gets the photos.
Vegetable paella
A proper vegetable paella, not an afterthought.
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. A summer party in Ardley stays light until about 9:30pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Thinking about paella party catering for your party in Ardley? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Ardley: your questions answered
How far is Ardley from London?
Roughly 57 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How many paellas should we have?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Will the neighbours notice?
Gas cooking means steam and a good smell, not much smoke. The smell is normally the best advert for the party.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
How far in advance should we book?
The sooner the better, but it is always worth asking. We will check availability straight away.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Ardley? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Send a photo of the garden so we can check
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
Planning a party in Ardley
Ardley is about 4 miles north-west of Bicester, in Oxfordshire. Across the OX27 area, we can cook for your guests. We cover 443 places across Oxfordshire, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Ardley to Oxford (13 miles away).
If guests are coming by rail, Bicester North station is about 3.8 miles away.
Wherever your party is in OX27, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Whether your party is on Church Road, Station Road and Somerton Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Fewcott (1 mile north-west), Fritwell (1 mile north-west), Upper Heyford (2 miles south-west), Middleton Stoney (2 miles south) and Souldern (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Oxford (13 miles south), Banbury (10 miles north-west), Bicester (4 miles south-east), Kidlington (9 miles south), Headington Quarry (13 miles south) and Bure Park (3 miles south-east).
A little further out are Ardley Castle (within half a mile west) and Bicester Community Hospital (3.9 miles south-east). The countryside around Ardley includes Graven Hill.
- Local pubs include The Fox and Hounds pub (within half a mile north-east)
What paella party catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- How long we are needed on site
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Getting an accurate quote
For a quote, it helps to have:
- What the venue already provides
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Send us the date, your venue or OX27 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Paella compared with other options
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. Book us and you’re free to enjoy it. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Events in Ardley and across Oxfordshire
- A quote that spells everything out
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Towns and villages near Ardley
More for events in Ardley
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Give separate numbers for children
- Plan seats for most guests
- Have bins ready
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
At food time, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
Tapas to start keep guests happy.
- 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