Greater London · England
Paella Catering in Catford
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Catford.
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversary celebrations
- Big birthdays
Paella catering in Catford
Paella catering for your event in Catford
Keep it simple, or go all out: just paella, or paella with tapas, desserts and drinks. We will suggest what suits your event. We’re often asked to cater weddings, from canapés to evening food and community events and fairs, serving black rice, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella.
London gardens are frequently long and narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there is a level spot clear of fences and trees. In Catford, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- Catford (SE6, BR1)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Common questions in Catford
Can you cook in Forster Memorial Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Catford for guests?
The closest is Catford Bridge station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can we choose the seafood?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Two or three is usual: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Do you cook inside?
Usually we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Catford is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Should I cook it myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Paella catering around Catford
Catford is about 5 miles east of Streatham, in Greater London. For paella catering in Catford, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cater in 764 places across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Parks such as Forster Memorial Park normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
For paella catering in SE6 and BR1, we plan around your venue and your guests. That could mean an event in a garden on Bargery Road, Penerley Road and Inchmery Road. Nearby, we also cater events in Bellingham (1 mile south-west), Southend (1 mile south-west), Ladywell (1 mile north), Hither Green (1 mile north-east) and Bell Green (1 mile south-west). Further out, we also cater in London (5 miles north-west), City of Westminster (8 miles north-west), Marylebone (8 miles north-west), Kensington (9 miles north-west), St Pancras (7 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Prefab Museum (0.7 miles south-east) and Lewisham Shopping Centre (1.4 miles north). Not far away are Downham Woodland Walk and Knight's Hill.
- Local schools include Conisborough College (0.5 miles south) and Trinity Church of England School (1.4 miles north-east)
- Local pubs include The London & Rye pub (less than half a mile north)
- Local facilities include Nunhead (2.5 miles north-west)
Paella compared with other options
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Larger events generally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why Catford hosts choose us
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
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 process
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Planning an evening event in Catford? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Before we arrive
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Catford? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Also in Catford
Who books paella catering in Catford?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Naming days and family parties
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Summer garden parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
For guests coming by train, Catford Bridge station is about 0.5 miles away.
Before you book anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deadline for final numbers
- 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