Greater London · England
Paella Catering in Old Coulsdon
Planning paella catering in Old Coulsdon? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Paella catering for Old Coulsdon events
Perfect for your event in Old Coulsdon
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
- Anniversary celebrations
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Keston Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Questions to ask before booking
- How each diet is kept separate
- A clear list of what’s included
- What happens if it rains
- Whether travel is included
Paella catering for your event in Old Coulsdon
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. On the menu are mixed paella, seafood paella and vegan paella, and we’re frequently booked for garden get-togethers and retirement celebrations.
London gardens are frequently long and narrow, but a level spot away from fences and trees is usually all we need. In Old Coulsdon, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
- Location
- Old Coulsdon (CR5, CR3, CR8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Your questions about paella catering in Old Coulsdon
Could we have live paella in Dollypers Hill?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Is parking a problem for events in Old Coulsdon?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We’ll plan unloading around it.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
What affects the price in Old Coulsdon
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- The paellas you choose
- Whether you need crockery
- Timings and hours
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Expected numbers
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
As a London location, Old Coulsdon is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
On the day, you shouldn’t have to think about the food. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
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. A caterer handles all of that.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Organising for someone else?
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Paella catering around Old Coulsdon
Old Coulsdon is about 1 mile south-east of Coulsdon, in Greater London. Give us the address of your event in Old Coulsdon, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cater in 764 places across Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 14 miles away.
Historic houses near Old Coulsdon include Addington Palace (5 miles north-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. Parks such as Dollypers Hill usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
This part of Greater London takes in CR5, CR3 and CR8, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Ellis Road, Tollers Lane and Court Avenue or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Old Coulsdon for paella catering include Coulsdon (1 mile north-west), Chipstead (2 miles west), Purley (2 miles north), Woodcote (2 miles north-west) and Woodmansterne (3 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (14 miles north), City of Westminster (15 miles north), Marylebone (15 miles north), Kensington (14 miles north), Whitechapel (15 miles north) and Brompton (14 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include East Surrey Museum (2 miles south-east) and St Lawrence's Hospital (1.3 miles south-east). The countryside around Old Coulsdon includes Nore Hill and Mercers Lake.
- Nearby schools include Oasis Academy Coulsdon (less than half a mile south-east) and Sunnydown School (1.4 miles east)
- Pubs nearby include The Tudor Rose pub (under half a mile north-west)
Towns and villages near Old Coulsdon
Other catering in Old Coulsdon
How the day works
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. Around midsummer it stays light in Old Coulsdon until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, 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.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Give us a contact for the day
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
- 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