Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Forest Hill, Greater London
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Forest Hill and across Greater London.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella catering in Forest Hill
The process
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. Evenings in Forest Hill stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including 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
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
Get a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Read more
How our paella catering works in Forest Hill
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there’s very little waste, and the food arrives hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. On the menu are vegan paella, paella Valenciana and mixed paella, and typical bookings are for staff parties and work lunches and birthday celebrations.
Around Forest Hill, most London events we are asked about are in gardens, courtyards and hired venues. Parking and loading are the main things to plan, so let us know about parking permits or a driveway. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan.
- Area
- Forest Hill (SE23, SE22, SE26)
- Region
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What paella catering costs
There’s nothing hidden: the quote reflects:
- Timings and hours
- How many courses
- The number of people
- Parking and unloading
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- The courses you’d like
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Places near Forest Hill
What else we do in Forest Hill
Live paella or other catering?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Take a look at Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
Forest Hill questions
Which station should guests use for Forest Hill?
The closest is Honor Oak Park station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Is parking a problem for events in Forest Hill?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will plan unloading around it.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will help you decide the split.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Do you take everything away?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
As a London location, Forest Hill 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’ll say what we think.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Ensure each pan is labelled
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Catering an event in Forest Hill
Forest Hill is about 2 miles south-east of East Dulwich, in Greater London. From the centre of Forest Hill to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 764 towns and villages across Greater London.
For guests coming by train, Honor Oak Park station is about 0.5 miles away. Nearby historic houses include Kingswood House (1.6 miles south-west) and Queen's House (3.2 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Here we cover the SE23, SE22 and SE26 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include Ewart Road, London Road and Rojack Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Other places close to Forest Hill for paella catering include Honor Oak (1 mile north), Perry Vale (1 mile south-east), Brockley (1 mile north-east), Crofton Park (1 mile north-east) and Dulwich (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (4 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (7 miles north-west), St Pancras (6 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Greenwich Castle (3.1 miles north-east) and Horniman Museum and Gardens (0.5 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include One Tree Hill and Knight's Hill.
- Local schools include Allenby Tutorial Trust (under half a mile south-east) and Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich (0.8 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include Capitol Cinema pub (0.5 miles south)
- Other local spots include Nunhead (1.5 miles north)
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
- 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