Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Barking, Greater London
Planning paella catering in Barking? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Live paella catering in Barking
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
About our paella catering in Barking
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. That’s why it works for so many events. For garden get-togethers and milestone birthday parties, we can cook seafood paella, black rice and vegan paella and more.
London gardens are frequently long and narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there’s a level spot clear of fences and trees. In Barking, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Where
- Barking (IG11, RM9, RM8, E6)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Barking
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Level ground for the pans and burners
Barking is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Events we cater in Barking
Live paella is food and a show in one. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Barking station, about 0.8 miles north-west.
Before you book anyone
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Payment terms and deposit
- Space, access and power needs
- The wet-weather plan
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Anything your venue supplies
- Expected numbers
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Barking: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Patrick's Church?
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 usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Barking for guests?
The closest is Barking station, roughly 0.8 miles away.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
What about pudding?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Which paella is most popular?
That depends on who’s coming. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Do you do starters?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas first, paella to follow.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
What happens on the day
It is a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Barking stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
Send us the date, your venue or IG11 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
More for events in Barking
Why choose live paella in Barking?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and normally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why choose Love Paella in Barking
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
See Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Organising for someone else?
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Barking: venues, travel and local tips
Barking is about 9 miles east of London, in Greater London. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Barking. We cover 764 places in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is London, about 9 miles away.
Parks such as Mayesbrook Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Patrick's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
This part of Greater London takes in IG11, RM9, RM8 and E6. From Eastbury Square, London Road and Church Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Barking, we also cover Loxford (1 mile north-west), Creekmouth (1 mile south), Wallend (1 mile west), East Ham (2 miles west) and Beckton (2 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (9 miles west), City of Westminster (11 miles west), Marylebone (11 miles west), Kensington (13 miles west), St Pancras (9 miles west) and Shoreditch (8 miles west).
Well-known places in the area include Barking Community Hospital (under half a mile north) and East End Women's Museum (0.9 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Ripple Nature Reserve and Hollow Pond.
- Local schools include Greatfields School (0.5 miles west)
- Local pubs include The Barking Dog pub (0.8 miles north-west)
- Local facilities include East Ham (1.8 miles west)
- 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