Greater London · England
Paella Catering for Smithfield events
Looking for paella catering in Smithfield? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
Book paella catering in Smithfield
Paella catering in Smithfield, cooked live
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, very little goes to waste, and the food is served hot. That is why it works for so many events. Whether it is weddings, from canapés to evening food and big birthdays, we will put together a menu of black rice, vegetable paella and mixed paella.
London gardens are often long and narrow, but a level spot away from fences and trees is normally all we need. In Smithfield, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Area
- Smithfield (EC1V, EC1P, EC1R)
- Region
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What affects the price in Smithfield
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- How many courses
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Travel, parking and access
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Larger events normally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of where we’d cook
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
FAQs for Smithfield
What about parking in Smithfield?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We’ll work around it.
Could we have live paella in Postman's Park?
Only if the landowner, typically the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Can you feed plenty of people?
It is ideal. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
How does live paella catering work?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
How much does paella catering cost in Smithfield?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you do desserts?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Paella catering around Smithfield
Smithfield is about 1 mile north of London, in Greater London. Tell us where your event in Smithfield will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up. We cook in 764 places across Greater London.
Historic houses near Smithfield include Dr Johnson's House (less than half a mile south-west) and Mansion House (0.7 miles south-east). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Charterhouse Square School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Wherever your event is in EC1V, EC1P and EC1R, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your event could be at a home on Oat Lane, Shoe Lane and Long Lane or the roads around them. With the A1 and A4 close by, Smithfield is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. If your venue is just outside Smithfield, we also cover Farringdon (1 mile north), Blackfriars (1 mile south), Holborn (1 mile west), Temple Bar (1 mile south-west) and Clerkenwell (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include Kensington (4 miles west), Walthamstow (6 miles north-east), Hampstead (4 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west), Brompton (3 miles south-west) and Stockwell (4 miles south).
A little further out are Postal Museum (less than half a mile south-east) and Finsbury Health Centre (0.5 miles north-west). Open spaces near Smithfield include Ludgate Hill and St. James's Park Lake.
- Local schools include St Alban's Church of England Primary School (under half a mile west) and London Nautical School (0.9 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Oriole pub (less than half a mile south-west)
- Local facilities include Barts Health Archives (under half a mile south-east) and County of London (0.5 miles south-east)
Space, weather and the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
As a London location, Smithfield is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Diets, allergies and planning
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Give us separate numbers for children
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Perfect for your event in Smithfield
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, thanks to separate pans for each version. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Smithfield and Greater London:
- Summer garden parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Bartholomew-the-Less, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What your quote should include
- When final numbers are due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Payment terms and deposit
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
Places near Smithfield
What else we do in Smithfield
How the day works
Here’s how the day generally runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and it’s served hot from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Smithfield stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Getting ready for the day
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Tell us where to park and unload
Ask for a quote
To get a price, send us your details through our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
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. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
- 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