Greater London · England
Paella Catering in Old Ford
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Old Ford. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Summer garden parties
Paella catering for Old Ford events
Paella catering in Old Ford, made fresh on the day
One cooking area feeds plenty of people, there’s very little waste, and the food is served hot. That is why it works for so many events. For fairs, fêtes and festivals and company summer parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegan paella, mixed paella and black rice and more.
In Old Ford, events range from terrace gardens to hired halls. Tell us how close we can park, and whether there are steps or narrow passages. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Old Ford (E3, E15, E9)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Timings and hours
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- The paellas you choose
- Distance and access to the venue
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Old Ford? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
The process
The paella is cooked in giant, shallow pans over gas burners. We need a level, ventilated spot, which we agree with you beforehand. Around midsummer it stays light in Old Ford until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Questions from Old Ford
Could we have live paella in Grove Hall Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Paul Old Ford?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How much does paella catering cost in Old Ford?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Is the paella gluten-free?
Yes, on request. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Catering an event in Old Ford
Old Ford is about 2 miles west of Plaistow, in Greater London. Give us the address of your event in Old Ford, and we will plan the journey and set-up. Old Ford is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London where we cook.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Paul Old Ford, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hackney Wick station, about 0.6 miles north.
Here we cover the E3, E15 and E9 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. From Bow Road, Wick Lane and Dace Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Donnybrook Quarter (1 mile west), Fish Island (1 mile north), Bow (1 mile south-west), Hackney Wick (1 mile north) and Bromley (1 mile south). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (4 miles south-west), City of Westminster (6 miles west), Marylebone (6 miles west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (4 miles west) and Walthamstow (4 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include V&A East (0.6 miles north-east) and Tower of London (3 miles south-west). The countryside around Old Ford includes Hollow Pond and Old Ford Island.
- Nearby schools include Old Ford Primary - A Paradigm Academy (within half a mile west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Lea Tavern (0.5 miles north)
- Local facilities include Park (under half a mile north-west)
Towns and villages near Old Ford
Also in Old Ford
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Throwing a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Live paella or other catering?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Catering across Greater London, including Old Ford
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Tell us what else is being served
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Occasions we cook for in Old Ford
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
In Old Ford and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Retirement celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Big birthdays
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Grove Hall Park? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
What to look for in a quote
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How long the team stays
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether travel is 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