Oxfordshire · England
Paella party catering in Thame, Oxfordshire
Bring the theatre of live paella to your party in Thame. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
- Naming days and christenings
Planning an event in Thame?
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
How our paella party catering works in Thame
A paella party works in most gardens, as long as there is a flat spot clear of fences and branches. Send us a photo if you’re unsure. We’re frequently asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and christenings and naming days, with mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and churros.
Birthdays, christenings and summer parties in Thame often happen at home or in a local hall. Live paella works at both, given some outdoor or ventilated space. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Thame (OX9)
- Area hub
- Oxfordshire
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Compared with a barbecue, paella is served all at once, so everyone eats together. And nobody is stuck at the grill. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- We cover Thame and the whole of Oxfordshire
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Ensure most people can sit to eat
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Count adults and children separately
Booked staff help serve and clear so you can relax.
Sangria sets the mood.
Perfect for your party in Thame
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from toddlers to grandparents.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Thame book us for events such as:
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Wakes and memorial gatherings
- Anniversary celebrations
- Naming days and christenings
Nearby historic houses include Adwell House (3.9 miles south). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- Travel and parking costs
- Space, access and power needs
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Dishes our guests love
Churros
Fried, sugared and dipped in chocolate, a sweet finish.
Chicken & chorizo paella
It’s one of the most popular pans at parties, though it is not traditional in Valencia.
Where we can cook in Thame
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
Also in Thame
Parties in Thame: gardens, venues and local tips
Thame is about 8 miles south-west of Aylesbury, in Oxfordshire. Tell us where your party in Thame will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. Thame is one of 443 towns and villages in Oxfordshire we cover. We cook right across the region, from Thame to Oxford (about 11 miles away).
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of St Mary, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, about 2.1 miles north-east. The Chilterns National Landscape is within about 7 miles of Thame, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
This part of Oxfordshire takes in OX9. Streets in the area include Upper High Street, Butter Market and High Street, and we can cook for a party on any of them. Thame is on the A329 and A418, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. If your venue is just outside Thame, we also cover Moreton (1 mile south-west), Towersey (1 mile east), Kingsey (2 miles east), Long Crendon (2 miles north-west) and Haddenham (3 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Oxford (11 miles west), Didcot (15 miles south-west), Bicester (13 miles north-west), Abingdon-on-Thames (14 miles west), Henley-on-Thames (15 miles south) and Kidlington (14 miles west). As one of the bigger places in Oxfordshire, Thame has lots of places to hold a party.
A little further out are Thame Museum (0.5 miles north-west) and Thame Community Hospital (less than half a mile south-east). The countryside around Thame includes Snakemoor.
- Nearby schools include Lord Williams's School (0.9 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include Cross Keys Public House (within half a mile south-west)
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Thame: your questions answered
Can you cook at venues in the Chilterns National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is Thame close to London?
About 41 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Will there be enough food?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Will the neighbours notice?
Paella is cooked over gas, so there is cooking steam and smell but little smoke. Neighbours may well want an invitation.
The process
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. A summer party in Thame stays light until about 9:25pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:10pm; add lights for the evening.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We set up before guests arrive.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve from the pan and pack down.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. Just use our quote form.
Read more
- 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