Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Purley, Greater London
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event turns food into part of your event in Purley.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Garden get-togethers
Book paella catering in Purley
Paella catering in Purley, made fresh on the day
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it’s served straight from the pan. On the menu are vegan paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are regularly asked to cater wedding breakfasts and evening food and family celebrations and christenings.
London gardens are often long and narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there is a level spot clear of fences and trees. In Purley, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. Timings are planned around your event, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Where
- Purley (CR8, CR2, CR5)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Purley
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Timings and hours
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The venue or postcode
- Anything your venue supplies
The quickest way to a quote is to send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Is live paella right for your event?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
Why choose Love Paella in Purley
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- A clear, itemised quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Real theatre, not just catering
Take a look at Our prices page And What paella catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Count adults and children separately
- Confirm allergies by email
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
The process
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. Planning an evening event in Purley? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Planning paella catering in Purley? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Before you choose a spot
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
As a London location, Purley is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is normally the most photographed pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
For planners, venues and organisers
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Purley: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Dollypers Hill?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
We are having a ceremony at St Swithun's: 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. Send us the reception address.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Which paella is most popular?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Live paella in Purley: local details
Purley is about 2 miles south-west of Croydon, in Greater London. Wherever your event is in the CR8 area, we can cook for your guests. Purley is one of 764 towns and villages in Greater London we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 11 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley), a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, Purley station is in Purley itself.
We cook at events all over CR8, CR2 and CR5 and the streets around it. Your event could be at a home on High Street, Church Road and Brighton Road. Purley is on the A2022, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Other places close to Purley for paella catering include Peaks Hill (1 mile north-west), Woodcote (1 mile west), Russell Hill (1 mile north), Roundshaw (1 mile north-west) and Woodcote Green (1 mile west). Larger places within reach include London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (12 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (12 miles north), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
A little further out are St George's Walk (2.7 miles north) and County Borough of Croydon (2.6 miles north). Open spaces near Purley include Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
- Nearby schools include Thomas More Catholic School (0.5 miles north) and Laleham Lea School (0.9 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find The Jolly Farmers pub (less than half a mile north-east)
Also in Purley
- 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