Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Forest Gate, Greater London
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Forest Gate. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Community events and fairs
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Big birthdays
Paella catering in Forest Gate
Paella catering in Forest Gate, cooked live
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields in and around Forest Gate. On the menu are seafood paella, paella Valenciana and black rice, and we are often booked for staff parties and work lunches and leaving dos and retirements.
From a terraced garden to a hired hall, events in Forest Gate come in all shapes. Tell us how close we can park, and whether there are steps or narrow passages. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Location
- Forest Gate (E7, E15, E11)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
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 we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. In Forest Gate, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, 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.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
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What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Forest Gate is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
Places near Forest Gate
More for events in Forest Gate
Why choose paella catering in Forest Gate?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
For a christening or wedding at a church such as A Radical Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before you book anyone
- Travel and parking costs
- What happens if it rains
- How long the team stays
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Your questions about paella catering in Forest Gate
Could we have live paella in West Ham Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
What about parking in Forest Gate?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll plan unloading around it.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Are premium seafood options available?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu, including premium options if you want them.
Can paella be the only main course?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Which paella is most popular?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We’ll agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Live paella in Forest Gate: local details
Forest Gate is about 6 miles north-east of London, in Greater London. Events in Forest Gate are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. We cater in all 764 towns and villages across Greater London. Our nearest city page is London, about 6 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Woodgrange Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Historic houses near Forest Gate include Valentines Mansion (2.2 miles north-east) and Eastbury Manor House (3.3 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
For paella catering in E7, E15 and E11, we plan around your venue. We can cater an event on streets such as Elm Road, Ash Road and Cary Road. Main roads around Forest Gate include the A114 and A116, which makes travel to your event easy. If your venue is just outside Forest Gate, we also cover Upton (1 mile south), Aldersbrook (1 mile north), Holloway Down (1 mile west), Plashet (1 mile south-east) and Little Ilford (1 mile east). Further out, we also cater in London (6 miles south-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).
Other landmarks nearby include Cann Hall (0.8 miles north-west) and Passmore Edwards Museum (0.9 miles south-west). Open spaces near Forest Gate include Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
- Nearby schools include Forest Gate Community School (under half a mile west) and Tyndale Academy (0.6 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Hudson Bay pub (less than half a mile south)
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Count adults and children separately
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
What paella catering costs
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The number of people
- Starters, canapés and desserts
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
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. Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Forest Gate
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Events in Forest Gate and across Greater London
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Forest Gate? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Give us the details and we will suggest a plan.
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 can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
- 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