Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Charlton, Greater London
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Charlton.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Anniversary celebrations
Live paella catering in Charlton
Paella catering in Charlton, made fresh on the day
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We cook vegetable paella, seafood paella and mixed paella, and we are frequently booked for naming days and family parties and summer garden parties.
In a London neighbourhood like Charlton, the cooking spot is usually a back garden, a courtyard or a venue’s terrace. The thing to plan is parking and unloading, so tell us about permits, bays or a driveway when you ask for a quote. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Where
- Charlton (SE7, SE18)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Why choose live paella in Charlton?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it’s entertaining too. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
What you get with us
- Drinks service on request
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Events in Charlton and across Greater London
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Charlton: venues, travel and local tips
Charlton is about 2 miles west of Plumstead, in Greater London. For paella catering in Charlton, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Charlton. We cover 764 places in Greater London. Our nearest city page is London, about 6 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Charlton has its own station, Charlton station. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Catherine Labouré, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Here we cover the SE7 and SE18 postcode area. Streets in the area include Floyd Road, Guild Road and Priolo Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Nearby, we also cater events in New Charlton (1 mile north-west), Westcombe Park (1 mile west), Woolwich (1 mile east), Vanbrugh Park Estate (1 mile south-west) and Kidbrooke (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover London (6 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (7 miles west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north-west).
A little further out are British Hospital for Mothers and Babies (0.5 miles east) and Gallions Reach Shopping Park (2.3 miles north-east). Open spaces near Charlton include Gilbert's Pit.
- Schools near Charlton include Royal Greenwich Trust School (under half a mile north) and Wildwood Montessori School (1.3 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include The Victoria pub (less than half a mile north)
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Count adults and children separately
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Your questions about paella catering in Charlton
What about parking in Charlton?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We’ll work around it.
Which station should guests use for Charlton?
Charlton has its own station: Charlton station.
Is paella a full meal?
It’s a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
What happens with live paella?
We cook from scratch at your venue in big pans, in front of your guests, and serve straight from the pan.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
- Guest numbers
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What to tell us
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
What else we do in Charlton
Where we can cook in Charlton
We will be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Somewhere close to park and unload
Charlton is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Charlton
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
How the day works
A typical event goes like this: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and it is served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Charlton until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Working with your venue
If you are organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
- 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