Oxfordshire · England
Paella party catering in Shellingford, Oxfordshire
Planning paella party catering in Shellingford? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Milestone birthdays
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Paella party catering for Shellingford events
Paella party catering in Shellingford, made fresh on the day
A paella party takes the cooking off your hands without turning the day into a formal dinner. We set up in the garden or venue and cook as your guests chat. Typical bookings include milestone birthdays and retirement celebrations, with mixed paella, seafood paella and churros.
Country parties near Shellingford suit live paella: cooked in the open and served hot. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
- Location
- Shellingford (SN7)
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Tell us how many children are coming
Booked staff help serve and clear so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges round off the meal.
FAQs for Shellingford
Is Shellingford 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 are having a ceremony at Church of St Faith: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
When should I book?
The sooner the better, but it’s always worth asking. Send your date and we’ll check.
Can you do a kids’ option?
Most children enjoy paella, especially a mild chicken one. Tell us how many and their ages.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
What paella party catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
- Whether you need crockery
- The length of service
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What we need to know
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
Organising a club, school or community event in Shellingford? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Live paella or other catering?
Cooking yourself saves money but costs you the party. With live paella, you are a guest too. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
What happens on the day
Here’s how the day usually runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Sunset in Shellingford is about 9:00pm in late May and 9:30pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we will need light where we cook and serve.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Tell us about your party in Shellingford, and we will put together a menu and price.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Also in Shellingford
Planning a party in Shellingford
Shellingford is about 6 miles north-west of Wantage, in Oxfordshire. Parties in Shellingford are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in 443 places across Oxfordshire. We cook right across the region, from Shellingford to Oxford (about 15 miles away).
We cook at parties all over the SN7 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether your party is on Church Street and Fernham Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Stanford in the Vale (1 mile east), Hatford (2 miles north-east), Baulking (2 miles south), Bow (2 miles east) and Fernham (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (15 miles north-east), Didcot (13 miles east), Abingdon-on-Thames (11 miles east), Witney (10 miles north), Carterton (9 miles north) and Wantage (6 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find Faringdon Castle (1.9 miles north-west) and Faringdon Museum (2.2 miles north-west). The countryside around Shellingford includes Badbury Hill.
- Nearby schools include Faringdon Community College (2.2 miles west)
Planning the cooking area
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Send a photo of the garden so we can check
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Churros
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Perfect for your party in Shellingford
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones, and there is little waste.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We often cook for:
- Baby celebrations
- Family reunions
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St Faith, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before booking
- Who provides the crockery
- Payment terms and deposit
- A clear list of what’s included
- How long the team stays
- 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