Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Maypole, Greater London
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Maypole and across Greater London.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Summer garden parties
Planning an event in Maypole?
Paella catering in Maypole, cooked live
There’s something generous about paella: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. We are often asked to cater engagement and anniversary parties and weddings and evening receptions, serving seafood paella, mixed paella and black rice.
Around Maypole, most London events we’re 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. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Where
- Maypole (BR6)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
What we need at the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Maypole is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Maypole questions
Which station should guests use for Maypole?
The closest is Knockholt station, roughly 0.7 miles away.
Do you cater in the Kent Downs National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll follow the site rules.
Is halal food available?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Do you cover Maypole?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Maypole and the rest of Greater London. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
How much does paella catering cost in Maypole?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Other catering in Maypole
Catering an event in Maypole
Maypole is about 3 miles south-east of Orpington, in Greater London. For paella catering in Maypole, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Maypole is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Maypole to London (14 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Mission Chapel, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Parks such as Hewitt's Chalk Bank normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The Kent Downs National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Maypole, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of the BR6 postcode area. From Jubilee Road, Hollybush Lane and Maypole Road or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. For events just outside Maypole, we cover Bopeep (1 mile south), Well Hill (1 mile east), Chelsfield (1 mile north-west), Badgers Mount (1 mile south) and Goddington (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include London (14 miles north-west), Shoreditch (15 miles north-west), Whitechapel (14 miles north-west), Stockwell (14 miles north-west), Orpington (3 miles north-west) and Plaistow (13 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Lullingstone Castle (2.4 miles east) and Orpington Hospital (2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include The Warren and Summer Hill.
- Nearby schools include Harris Academy Orpington (1.8 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Bo-Peep pub (within half a mile south)
Paella compared with other options
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Catering across Greater London, including Maypole
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
How it works
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is still served fresh. In Maypole, 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. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Give us a contact for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- The length of service
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What to tell us
These details help us quote quickly:
- The venue or postcode
- Anything your venue supplies
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Perfect for your event in Maypole
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Big or small, live paella works well. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Garden get-togethers
- Retirement celebrations
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Chelsfield Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before booking anyone
- What the price includes, item by item
- Travel and parking costs
- Who provides the crockery
- When payment is due
- 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