Greater London · England
Paella Catering for Custom House events
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Custom House and Greater London, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Community events and fairs
- Naming days and family parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering near Custom House
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
About our paella catering in Custom House
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it’s ready, it is served straight from the pan. We’re often asked to cater weddings and evening receptions and retirement celebrations, with mixed paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana.
Gardens in London can be narrow, but a level spot away from fences and trees is normally all we need. In Custom House, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Custom House (E16, E13)
- County
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
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. Planning an evening event in Custom House? 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Custom House
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
As a London location, Custom House 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 photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Mention any other courses or food
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Live paella or other catering?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why Custom House hosts choose us
- We cover Custom House and the whole of Greater London
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Planners, venues and businesses
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
About the dishes
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Custom House: venues, travel and local tips
Custom House is about 1 mile south of Canning Town, in Greater London. Whether your event is in the middle of Custom House or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Custom House is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Thames Barrier Park? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Nearby historic houses include Queen's House (2.3 miles south-west) and Eastbury Manor House (3.5 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Wherever your event is in E16 and E13, we can bring paella catering to you. Streets in the area include Tree Road, Ethel Road and Booth Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Main roads around Custom House include the A1020, which makes travel to your event easy. Neighbouring places where we cater events include West Silvertown (1 mile south-west), Silvertown (1 mile south), Canning Town (1 mile north), Royal Docks (1 mile east) and Limmo Peninsula (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (5 miles west), City of Westminster (8 miles west), Marylebone (8 miles west), Kensington (10 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles west) and Shoreditch (5 miles west).
Nearby you’ll also find East Ham (2 miles north-east) and Greenwich Castle (2.5 miles south-west). Not far away are Gilbert's Pit and Tower Hill.
- Local schools include Royal Docks Academy (within half a mile north-east) and The Royal Docks Community School (less than half a mile north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Connaught Tavern (less than half a mile east)
Common questions in Custom House
Can you cook in Thames Barrier Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Which station should guests use for Custom House?
Custom House has its own station: Custom House station.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Anything your venue supplies
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Places near Custom House
Also in Custom House
- 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