Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Kennington, Greater London
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Kennington. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Birthday celebrations
- Anniversary celebrations
Planning an event in Kennington?
Paella catering in Kennington, cooked live
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. Once it’s ready, we serve it hot from the pan. On the menu are paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and anniversary celebrations.
In a London neighbourhood like Kennington, the cooking spot is generally a back garden, a courtyard or a venue’s terrace. Parking and loading are the main things to plan, so tell us about permits, bays or a driveway when you ask for a quote. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and a queue moves quickly.
- Area
- Kennington (SW8, SW1P, SE11)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Evenings in Kennington 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.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
Kennington is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Kennington
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
Every event is priced individually, based on a few main things:
- The paellas you choose
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Expected numbers
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
For planners, venues and organisers
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Kennington? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Perfect for your event in Kennington
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Kennington, people book us for occasions like:
- Company summer parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Nearby historic houses include Buckingham Palace (1.7 miles north-west) and Clarence House (1.8 miles north-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Comparing caterers
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- What happens if it rains
- The deposit and payment dates
- Who provides the crockery
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Places near Kennington
Other catering in Kennington
Kennington: venues, travel and local tips
Kennington is about 2 miles south-west of London, in Greater London. Whether your event is in the middle of Kennington or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Kennington is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Stephen's Church of England Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Calvary Church of God in Christ, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
We cover events in every part of SW8, SW1P and SE11. Whether your event is on Kay Road, Lett Road and Rita Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. With the A203 and A3204 close by, Kennington is easy for us to reach for your event. Other places close to Kennington for paella catering include Oval (1 mile north), South Lambeth (1 mile south-west), Little Portugal (1 mile south), North Brixton (1 mile south-east) and Vauxhall (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include City of Westminster (3 miles north-west), Marylebone (3 miles north-west), Kensington (4 miles west), St Pancras (3 miles north), Shoreditch (4 miles north-east) and Walthamstow (8 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Type Museum (0.5 miles south) and The Gordon Hospital (1 mile north-west). Open spaces near Kennington include Bellenden Road Nature Garden and Ludgate Hill.
- Local schools include Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School (within half a mile north-east) and St Peter's School (within half a mile north)
- Local pubs include Crown and Thistle pub (under half a mile south-west)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Lambeth Palace Library (1.1 miles north) and City and Liberty of Westminster (1.3 miles north)
Common questions in Kennington
What about parking in Kennington?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We will work around it.
We are having a ceremony at Calvary Church of God in Christ: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
Do you cook inside?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you come to Kennington?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Kennington is within our area and the rest of Greater London. To check your date, send us your details through our quote form.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
- 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