Oxfordshire · England
Paella Party Catering in Shiplake
Love Paella cooks paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events across Shiplake and Oxfordshire, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday parties
- Big family gatherings
Book paella party catering in Shiplake
Shiplake questions
Could we have live paella in Loddon Nature Reserve?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you come out to small places like Shiplake?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
How much paella per person?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. See how much paella per person.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Paella party catering in Shiplake, cooked live
It’s easy to cater for a mix of guests: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood pan and a vegetable or vegan pan side by side. Children normally love a simple chicken paella. Typical bookings include milestone birthdays and wakes and celebrations of life, serving chicken and chorizo paella, tapas and vegetable paella.
Country parties near Shiplake suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Have a gazebo ready in case of rain. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Shiplake (RG9)
- Region
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What paella party catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- Timings and hours
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- The date and rough timings
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Which courses you have in mind
- Any dietary needs and allergies
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
How it works
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. For a late-May party in Shiplake, sunset is around 8:55pm; at midsummer it is about 9:25pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- It starts with your date, address, numbers and any diets.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- On the day, we set up and get cooking.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your party, and we will suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Planning the cooking area
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
Parties in Shiplake: gardens, venues and local tips
Shiplake is about 3 miles north of Woodley, in Oxfordshire. For a party in Shiplake, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Shiplake. Shiplake is one of 443 places in Oxfordshire where we cook.
Parks such as Loddon Nature Reserve typically need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. Nearby historic houses include Greys Court (4.1 miles north-west) and Greenlands (4.5 miles north). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in RG9, so your party can be anywhere in it. We also cook at parties in Charvil (2 miles south), Twyford (2 miles south-east), Ruscombe (2 miles south-east), Hare Hatch (2 miles east) and The Holt (3 miles east). Larger places within reach include Benson (12 miles north-west), Chinnor (14 miles north), Tilehurst (7 miles south-west), Wallingford (12 miles north-west), Little Heath (7 miles west) and Oakley (14 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Royal Berkshire Hospital (4.2 miles south-west) and Frazer Nash Archives (2.1 miles north). The countryside around Shiplake includes South Lake and Sonning Hill.
- Nearby schools include Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School (1.2 miles south-east) and The Piggott School (1.2 miles south-east)
- Local pubs include The Plough pub (under half a mile north-west)
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Who books paella party catering in Shiplake?
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from toddlers to grandparents.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Christenings and naming days
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St Peter and St Paul, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before booking
- The deposit and payment dates
- How late numbers can change
- A clear list of what’s included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
- Have bins ready
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Add a diet question to the invitation
We are set up before guests arrive.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
Towns and villages near Shiplake
Also in Shiplake
A closer look at the menu
Churros
Sugary churros with chocolate.
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is frequently the showpiece, and is best served with lemon.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
- 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