Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Chinatown, Greater London
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Chinatown and across Greater London.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Community events and fairs
Paella catering near Chinatown
Paella catering for your event in Chinatown
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. Whether it is birthday celebrations and retirement celebrations, we will put together a menu of vegetable paella, chicken and chorizo paella and mixed paella for your guests.
In Chinatown, events range from terrace gardens to hired halls. Tell us how close we can park, and whether there are steps or narrow passages. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Chinatown (W1F, W1D, W1T)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Where we can cook in Chinatown
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you. The main points are:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Somewhere close to park and unload
As a London location, Chinatown is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Nearby places to Chinatown
More for events in Chinatown
Occasions we cook for in Chinatown
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Chinatown and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Soho Parish CofE Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Comparing caterers
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if it rains
- When final numbers are due
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, normally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
DIY paella versus live catering
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Paella catering around Chinatown
Chinatown is about 1 mile east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. Tell us where your event in Chinatown will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cover all 764 towns and villages in Greater London.
For guests coming by train, Chinatown has its own station, Tottenham Court Road station. Nearby historic houses include Benjamin Franklin House (within half a mile south-east) and Burlington House (under half a mile south-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
We cover events in every part of W1F, W1D and W1T and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as Duck Lane, Drury Lane and Bruton Lane. Being close to the A4 and A301, Chinatown is simple for us to get to with everything for your event. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Soho (1 mile north), St James's (1 mile south), West End (1 mile north-east), Seven Dials (1 mile north-east) and St Giles (1 mile north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Kensington (3 miles west), Shoreditch (3 miles north-east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hoxton (3 miles north-east), Whitechapel (3 miles east) and Hampstead (4 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find St James Workhouse (less than half a mile north-west) and Leverian collection (under half a mile south-east). The countryside around Chinatown includes Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
- Nearby schools include LITE Regal International School (0.6 miles west) and Harris Westminster Sixth Form (0.8 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Waxy O'Connor's pub (less than half a mile south-west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include London Library (within half a mile south-west) and Westminster St James (less than half a mile south-west)
Why choose live paella in Chinatown?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why Chinatown hosts choose us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
How it works
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Around midsummer it stays light in Chinatown until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- 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.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
Chinatown: your questions answered
Is parking a problem for events in Chinatown?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We will work around it.
We’re having a ceremony at St Anne's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Do you cater in Chinatown?
We do. We cook at events in Chinatown and across Greater London. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Tell us how many children are coming
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
- 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