Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Southgate, Greater London
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Southgate. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Big birthdays
- Leaving dos and retirements
Planning an event in Southgate?
How our paella catering works in Southgate
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields. Typical bookings include retirement and leaving parties and company summer parties, serving mixed paella, black rice and seafood paella.
London gardens are frequently long and narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there is a level spot clear of fences and trees. In Southgate, the bigger question is parking near the house or venue. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Southgate (N14, N11, N21, N13)
- Region
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Put allergy details in writing
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Live paella in Southgate: local details
Southgate is about 3 miles south-east of Barnet, in Greater London. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Southgate and nearby villages. We cater in 764 places across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 9 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is New Southgate station, about 1 mile south-west. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Ashmole Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
Here we cover the N14, N11, N21 and N13 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Streets in the area include High Street, Station Road and Blagden's Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Southgate is on the A111 and A1004, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Osidge (1 mile north-west), Brunswick Park (1 mile west), Arnos Grove (1 mile south), New Southgate (1 mile south) and Oakwood (1 mile north). Larger places within reach include London (9 miles south), City of Westminster (8 miles south), Marylebone (8 miles south), Kensington (9 miles south), St Pancras (7 miles south) and Shoreditch (7 miles south).
Nearby you will also find Municipal Borough of Southgate (1.3 miles south-east) and Grand Arcade (2.1 miles south-west). Not far away are Highgate Hill and Barfield Allotments Nature Park.
- Nearby schools include Ashmole Academy (within half a mile north) and Salcombe School (0.8 miles north)
- Local pubs include The New Crown pub (less than half a mile north)
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Southgate is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
Places near Southgate
Also in Southgate
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Your choice of paellas
- Timings and hours
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What to tell us
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The venue or postcode
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Organising a club, school or community event in Southgate? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
Who books paella catering in Southgate?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, so it suits all kinds of occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
In Southgate and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
Nearby historic houses include Bruce Castle (3.2 miles south-east) and Heath Hall (4 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
Comparing caterers
- How each diet is kept separate
- Whether travel is included
- How late numbers can change
- Whether VAT is included
Paella compared with other options
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- We cover Southgate and the whole of Greater London
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. Evenings in Southgate stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
Southgate questions
Which station should guests use for Southgate?
The closest is New Southgate station, roughly 1 mile away.
What about parking in Southgate?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will work around it.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can you cater for children?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Should we have more than one paella?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
- 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