Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Sanderstead, Greater London
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Sanderstead.
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Office lunches and staff parties
Paella catering near Sanderstead
How we price paella catering
These are the factors that matter most:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Distance and access to the venue
- How long we are needed on site
- Guest numbers
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The address or venue name
- Which courses you have in mind
- Diets and allergies you know about
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Paella catering in Sanderstead, cooked live
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. For garden get-togethers and festivals, fairs and school events, we will put together a menu of black rice, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Around Sanderstead, most London events we’re asked about are in gardens, courtyards and hired venues. The thing to plan is parking and unloading, so tell us about permits, bays or a driveway when you ask for a quote. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Sanderstead (CR2, CR8)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Events we cater in Sanderstead
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Sanderstead and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Anniversary celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Staff parties and work lunches
Historic houses near Sanderstead include Addington Palace (2.3 miles north-east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What your quote should include
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- The venue requirements
- A clear list of what’s included
- The deposit and payment dates
Paella compared with other options
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A quote that spells everything out
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
DIY paella versus live catering
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Working with your venue
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Sanderstead: venues, travel and local tips
Sanderstead is about 2 miles east of Purley, in Greater London. Events in Sanderstead are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in 764 places across Greater London. You can also see our page for London, about 11 miles away.
For guests coming by train, Riddlesdown station is about 0.8 miles away. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Gresham Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
For paella catering in CR2 and CR8, we plan around your venue and timings. From Hyde Road, Brian Avenue and Sundown Avenue or a nearby road, we can cook there. Sanderstead is on the A2022, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Riddlesdown (1 mile south-west), Kenley (1 mile south-west), South Croydon (1 mile north-west), Selsdon (1 mile north-east) and Hamsey Green (1 mile south-east). Larger places within reach include London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (12 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (2.1 miles north-west) and St George's Walk (2.7 miles north). The countryside around Sanderstead includes Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
- Local schools include Riddlesdown Collegiate (0.7 miles south)
- Local pubs include Selsdon Park Hotel (0.9 miles east)
- Local facilities include County Borough of Croydon (2.6 miles north)
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. Planning an evening event in Sanderstead? 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.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Before we arrive
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Planning help
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Nearby places to Sanderstead
Other catering in Sanderstead
Dietary needs and planning tips
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can enjoy your guests.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
FAQs for Sanderstead
Could we have live paella in Littleheath Woods?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, typically the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What’s the nearest station to Sanderstead for guests?
Riddlesdown station, about 0.8 miles west of the centre.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
Is paella enough as a main?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
Do you come to Sanderstead?
We do. Sanderstead is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Which paellas do you recommend?
That depends on who’s coming. A chicken or mixed paella is generally the most popular, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
- 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