Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Dagenham Dock, Greater London
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Dagenham Dock: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Birthday celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Office lunches and staff parties
Paella catering near Dagenham Dock
About our paella catering in Dagenham Dock
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked in the open in a big, shallow pan and shared straight from it. That’s what we bring to events in Dagenham Dock. For weddings and evening receptions and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we’ll put together a menu of paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and mixed paella.
Gardens in London can be narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there is a level spot clear of fences and trees. In Dagenham Dock, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Area
- Dagenham Dock (RM9, SE28, IG11)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why Dagenham Dock hosts choose us
- Drinks service on request
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
See How we price And The cost guide.
FAQs for Dagenham Dock
Can you cook in Parsloes Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
What about parking in Dagenham Dock?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We will work around it.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Yes, and meat eaters frequently go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Dagenham Dock.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Before you choose a spot
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
As a London location, Dagenham Dock is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Put allergy details in writing
- Give us separate numbers for children
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we typically call guests over.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Towns and villages near Dagenham Dock
Also in Dagenham Dock
Dagenham Dock: venues, travel and local tips
Dagenham Dock is about 2 miles south-west of Dagenham, in Greater London. For paella catering in Dagenham Dock, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices in and around Dagenham Dock. Dagenham Dock is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 10 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Eastbury Manor House (2.1 miles north-west) and Rainham Hall (2.1 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Parsloes Park? Public parks typically need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Anywhere in RM9, SE28 and IG11, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Perry Road, Choats Road and Chequers Lane or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Dagenham Green (1 mile north-east), Hornchurch Marshes (1 mile east), Thamesmead (1 mile south-west), Beam Park (1 mile east) and Barking Riverside (1 mile west). Further out, we also cater in London (10 miles west), City of Westminster (13 miles west), Marylebone (12 miles west), Kensington (15 miles west), St Pancras (11 miles west) and Shoreditch (9 miles west).
A little further out are Gallions Reach Shopping Park (2.7 miles west) and River (0.7 miles north-east). Not far away are Scrattons Eco Park.
- Local schools include Riverside School (0.9 miles west)
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
What paella catering costs
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
How the day works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evenings in Dagenham Dock stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, use our quote form.
Read more
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
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 at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
- 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