Greater London · England
Paella Catering in Southwark
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Southwark. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Big birthdays
- Community events and fairs
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering in Southwark
Paella compared with other options
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why us?
- Events in Southwark and across Greater London
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Fast service from the pan
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
About our paella catering in Southwark
There is something generous about paella: big pans, bright colours and a crispy base everyone wants a spoonful of. It makes the food an event in itself. Typical bookings include anniversary celebrations and christenings and family gatherings, with seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and paella Valenciana.
Gardens in London can be narrow, which is fine for live paella as long as there’s a level spot clear of fences and trees. For an event in Southwark, tell us where we can park to unload. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
- Area
- Southwark (SE1, SE11)
- County
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Nearby places to Southwark
Other catering in Southwark
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Southwark 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 you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Live paella in Southwark: local details
Southwark is about 0 miles north-west of London, in Greater London. Across the SE1 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 764 places in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Elephant & Castle station, about 0.5 miles south.
Paella catering in SE1 and SE11 is planned around your venue. That could mean an event in a garden on Borough Square, Trinity Church Square and Merrick Square. Southwark is on the A300 and B240, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. We also cook at events in Tower Hill (1 mile north-east), City of London (1 mile north), Aldgate (1 mile north-east), Bishopsgate (1 mile north-east) and Barbican Estate (1 mile north). We also cook in nearby towns such as City of Westminster (3 miles west), Kensington (5 miles west), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hampstead (5 miles north-west), Ruislip (14 miles west) and Brompton (3 miles west).
A little further out are County of London (1.1 miles north) and Baynard's Castle (0.8 miles north). The countryside around Southwark includes Ludgate Hill and Bellenden Road Nature Garden.
- Nearby schools include London School of Musical Theatre (under half a mile south-west) and Ark Globe Academy (under half a mile south-east)
- Nearby, you will find The Gladstone Arms (under half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include The BFI Reuben Library (0.9 miles north-west)
Southwark: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Which station should guests use for Southwark?
The closest is Elephant & Castle station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Do you come to Southwark?
We do. Southwark is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Do you do starters?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, while the rice is cooking.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Organising for someone else?
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We will provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests normally gather round to watch while it cooks. Planning an evening event in Southwark? 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.
- 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 rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Getting ready for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Plan cover in case of rain
Ask for a quote
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in Southwark, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Why choose paella catering in Southwark?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
We are booked for all kinds of occasions in Southwark and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Naming days and family parties
- Summer garden parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Charles Dickens Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before booking anyone
- How long the team stays
- Payment terms and deposit
- Travel and parking costs
- If the price includes VAT
Can I cook paella for a crowd 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 paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
- The paellas you choose
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- Your date and when you want to eat
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
- 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