Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Bow, Greater London
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Bow.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Company summer parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Paella catering in Bow
Catering an event in Bow
Bow is about 1 mile south-east of Hackney, in Greater London. Events in Bow are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Bow is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover.
Parks such as Grove Hall Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
We cook at events all over E3 and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Trellis Square, Sheffield Square and Bromley High Street or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Being close to the B142, Bow is easy for us to reach for your event. For events just outside Bow, we cover Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile north), Old Ford (1 mile north-east), Mile End (1 mile south), Fish Island (1 mile north) and Bromley (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (5 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Walthamstow (4 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include St Clement's Hospital (less than half a mile south) and Westfield Stratford City (1.3 miles north-east). The countryside around Bow includes Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
- Nearby schools include Mulberry UTC (under half a mile north) and Mulberry UTC (less than half a mile north)
- Pubs nearby include Lord Tredegar Public House (within half a mile south-west)
- Local facilities include Park (0.5 miles north)
About our paella catering in Bow
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Popular choices include vegan paella, black rice and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater garden get-togethers and office lunches and staff parties.
London gardens are often long and narrow, but a level spot away from fences and trees is normally all we need. In Bow, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
- Where
- Bow (E3)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
As a London location, Bow is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Why choose paella catering in Bow?
There’s no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
In Bow and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Leaving dos and retirements
Nearby historic houses include Sutton House (1.6 miles north-west) and Mansion House (2.9 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Questions to ask before you book
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Travel and parking costs
- When final numbers are due
- Who provides the crockery
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Towns and villages near Bow
Other catering in Bow
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Mention any other courses or food
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Your choice of paellas
- Parking and unloading
- Waiting and bar staff
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Roughly how many adults and children
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Why choose live paella in Bow?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Bow hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at How we price And What paella catering costs.
How it works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Planning an evening event in Bow? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Give us a contact for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Bow: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Grove Hall Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Bow for guests?
The closest is Hackney Wick station, roughly 0.9 miles away.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you cater in Bow?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Bow and the rest of Greater London. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
Can you cater for children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
- 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