Oxfordshire · England
Paella Party Catering in Checkendon
Planning paella party catering in Checkendon? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Big birthdays
- Christenings and naming days
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella party catering near Checkendon
About our paella party catering in Checkendon
Paella is relaxed food: it’s served from the pan and shared, without any fuss. For family reunions and big birthdays, we can cook vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and churros for your guests.
Near Checkendon, parties are frequently in gardens or fields. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we’ll plan the set-up. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Where
- Checkendon (RG8)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels, for the fish lovers.
Vegetable paella
A proper vegetable paella, not an afterthought, with peppers, beans and artichokes.
Party venues around Checkendon
Checkendon is about 6 miles north-west of Caversham, in Oxfordshire. From the centre of Checkendon to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Checkendon is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Checkendon to Reading (7 miles away).
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as St Peter and St Paul, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Goring & Streatley station, about 4.4 miles south-west. Checkendon is within about 7 miles of the Chilterns National Landscape, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Wherever your party is in RG8, we can bring paella party catering to you. Local streets include Uxmore Road, Whitehall Lane and Lovegrove's Lane; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. For parties just outside Checkendon, we cover Stoke Row (1 mile east), Hook End (1 mile south), Woodcote (2 miles south-west), Heath End (2 miles north) and Ipsden (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Didcot (10 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles north-west), Thame (14 miles north), Henley-on-Thames (6 miles east), Benson (6 miles north-west) and Chinnor (12 miles north-east).
Open spaces near Checkendon include Hartslock.
- Local schools include Langtree School (1.6 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Black Horse pub (within half a mile north)
Paella compared with other options
Home-made buffets take ages and sit out for hours. Paella is cooked fresh and served hot. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why us?
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Checkendon and across Oxfordshire
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Planning the cooking area
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- A photo of the garden helps us check the space
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before you book.
On the menu in Checkendon
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Churros
- Mixed paella
Events we cater in Checkendon
It’s generous and sociable, perfect for celebrations where people want to mingle.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Big family gatherings
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
Historic houses near Checkendon include Greys Court (3.5 miles east) and Mapledurham House (4.3 miles south). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- Payment terms and deposit
- Who provides the crockery
- Whether travel is included
The process
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over. At midsummer, it’s light in Checkendon until about 9:25pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:10pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve from the pan and pack down.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your party, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Read more
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Count adults and children separately
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll help serve and clear so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges round off the meal.
For event organisers in Checkendon
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
More for events in Checkendon
Prices and what affects them
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- How many guests are eating
- Travel, parking and access
- Waiting and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
What to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
FAQs for Checkendon
How far is Checkendon from London?
Roughly 41 miles from the centre of London.
What’s the nearest station to Checkendon for guests?
The closest is Goring & Streatley station, roughly 4.4 miles away.
How early should we book?
The sooner the better, but it’s always worth asking. We’ll check availability straight away.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
- 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