Greater London · England
Paella Catering in Nunhead
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Nunhead.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
- Community events and fairs
Paella catering in Nunhead
Paella catering for your event in Nunhead
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, there is very little waste, and the food is served hot. It’s why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We cook paella Valenciana, black rice and vegetable paella, and we are frequently booked for birthday celebrations and weddings and evening receptions.
From a terraced garden to a hired hall, events in Nunhead come in all shapes. Tell us how close we can park and about any steps. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Where
- Nunhead (SE15, SE4, SE14)
- Region
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Paella compared with other options
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, finished with lemon wedges. It’s typically the most photographed pan.
Also near Nunhead
Also in Nunhead
Space, weather and the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
As a London location, Nunhead is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
How it works
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. In Nunhead, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Related guides
FAQs for Nunhead
Can you cater a reception after a service at Saint Antony with Saint Silas?
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 usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
What’s the nearest station to Nunhead for guests?
Nunhead has its own station: Nunhead station.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
What areas do you cover?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
What affects the price in Nunhead
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Waiting and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Paella catering around Nunhead
Nunhead is about 1 mile south-west of New Cross, in Greater London. We cook at events in homes, gardens and venues in Nunhead and the surrounding area. Nunhead is one of 764 places in Greater London we cover.
For guests coming by train, Nunhead has its own station, Nunhead station. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Ivydale Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
We cook at events all over SE15, SE4 and SE14 and the streets around it. Local streets include Rye Road, Nash Road and Kitto Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Telegraph Hill (1 mile north-east), Honor Oak (1 mile south), Peckham (1 mile north-west), New Cross (1 mile north-east) and Brockley (1 mile south-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (3 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (7 miles west), St Pancras (5 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (5 miles north).
A little further out are Greenwich Castle (2.4 miles north-east) and Lewisham Shopping Centre (1.7 miles east). The countryside around Nunhead includes Knight's Hill and One Tree Hill.
- Nearby schools include Harris Girls' Academy East Dulwich (less than half a mile south-west) and Allenby Tutorial Trust (1.3 miles south)
- Local pubs include The Ivy House (under half a mile south)
Perfect for your event in Nunhead
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
In Nunhead and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Naming days and family parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
Historic houses near Nunhead include Queen's House (2.4 miles north-east) and Kingswood House (2.6 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- When payment is due
- How each diet is kept separate
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- A clear list of what’s included
- 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