Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Anerley, Greater London
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Anerley: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Live paella catering in Anerley
How our paella catering works in Anerley
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. We’re often asked to cater big birthdays and staff parties and work lunches, serving black rice, vegan paella and vegetable paella.
Gardens in London can be narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there’s a level spot clear of fences and trees. For an event in Anerley, tell us where we can park to unload. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Location
- Anerley (SE20, SE19, SE26)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Occasions we cook for in Anerley
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Company summer parties
Nearby historic houses include Kingswood House (1.3 miles north-west) and Bromley Palace (3.9 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before you book anyone
- When payment is due
- When final numbers are due
- Travel and parking costs
- If the price includes VAT
Planning live paella in Anerley
Anerley is about 2 miles north-east of Thornton Heath, in Greater London. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Anerley and the surrounding area. Anerley is one of 764 places in Greater London we cover. We cook right across the region, from Anerley to London (6 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Crystal Palace Dinosaurs? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as James Dixon Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
We cook at events all over SE20, SE19 and SE26. Streets in the area include Maple Road, Padua Road and Genoa Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Anerley, we cover Penge (1 mile east), Crystal Palace (1 mile north), Sydenham (1 mile north-east), Gipsy Hill (1 mile north-west) and Upper Norwood (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in London (6 miles north), City of Westminster (8 miles north-west), Marylebone (8 miles north-west), Kensington (8 miles north-west), St Pancras (8 miles north) and Shoreditch (8 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find St Christopher's Hospice (0.7 miles north-east) and Addiscombe (2.4 miles south). Open spaces near Anerley include Dulwich Upper Wood and Knight's Hill.
- Nearby schools include Harris City Academy Crystal Palace (0.5 miles south-west) and Crystal Palace School (0.6 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include Anerley Arms (less than half a mile south)
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Put allergy details in writing
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Where we can cook in Anerley
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Anerley is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
Nearby places to Anerley
What else we do in Anerley
Is live paella right for your event?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Anerley. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Drinks service on request
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. In Anerley, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
Common questions in Anerley
We’re having a ceremony at St Paul's: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Anerley for guests?
Anerley station, in Anerley itself.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Where do you cater?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Anerley.
Can you serve drinks?
Yes, sangria. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
What seafood can we have?
We will suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
For planners, venues and organisers
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
- 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