Greater London · England
Paella Catering in Cheam
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Cheam: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Book paella catering in Cheam
How our paella catering works in Cheam
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. We are frequently asked to cater garden get-togethers and milestone birthday parties, with vegan paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella.
Around Cheam, most London events we are asked about are in gardens, courtyards and hired venues. The thing to plan is parking and unloading, so let us know about parking permits or a driveway. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
- Area
- Cheam (SM2, SM3, SM1)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Paella catering around Cheam
Cheam is about 1 mile south-west of Sutton, in Greater London. Events in Cheam are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Cheam is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover. We cook right across the region, from Cheam to London (about 12 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Cheam station is about 0.6 miles away. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Glaisdale School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Cheam, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the SM2, SM3 and SM1 postcode area. From Wray Road, York Road and The Avenue or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Nearby, we also cater events in Belmont (1 mile south-east), Cuddington (1 mile north-west), North Looe (1 mile south-west), North Cheam (2 miles north) and Nork (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in London (12 miles north-east), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (12 miles north), Kensington (11 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (14 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam (1 mile north-east) and Chessington Castle Hill (3.5 miles west). The countryside around Cheam includes Duppas Hill and Belmont Pastures.
- Nearby schools include Avenue Primary Academy (0.5 miles south-east) and Overton Grange School (0.7 miles north-east)
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Put allergy details in writing
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Mention any other courses or food
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
How we price paella catering
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Travel, parking and access
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many courses
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- A picture of where we’d cook
Send us the date, your venue or SM2 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
How the day works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Around midsummer it stays light in Cheam until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Is live paella right for your event?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Cheam
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- A quote that spells everything out
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- We cover Cheam and the whole of Greater London
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Nearby places to Cheam
What else we do in Cheam
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Cheam 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 in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Common questions in Cheam
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Andrew?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Cheam?
The closest is Cheam station, roughly 0.6 miles away.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
How much does paella catering cost in Cheam?
We quote for each event, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
What do you need at the venue?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Is halal food available?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we can plan it carefully.
- 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