Greater London · England
Live paella catering in Temple, Greater London
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Temple and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Company summer parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Christenings and family gatherings
Live paella catering in Temple
Paella catering in Temple, made fresh on the day
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields in and around Temple. We’re often asked to cater engagement and anniversary parties and summer garden parties, serving vegetable paella, black rice and paella Valenciana.
Gardens in London can be narrow, but a level spot away from fences and trees is usually all we need. For an event in Temple, tell us where we can park to unload. You’ll know exactly what’s included before booking: the menu, the staff and any extras, with no surprises on the day.
- Location
- Temple (SE1, WC2H, WC2B)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning for every diet
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Count adults and children separately
- Put allergy details in writing
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Step by step
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evenings in Temple 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.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
How to prepare
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Related guides
Occasions we cook for in Temple
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Temple, people book us for events such as:
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Historic houses near Temple include Dr Johnson's House (under half a mile north-east) and Benjamin Franklin House (0.7 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Questions to ask before you book
- Whether VAT is included
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- What the price includes, item by item
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Nearby places to Temple
Other catering in Temple
Temple: your questions answered
What about parking in Temple?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll work around it.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Temple Church?
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.
When should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Can you cook indoors?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is typically the most photographed pan.
Live paella in Temple: local details
Temple is about 1 mile south of St Pancras, in Greater London. Give us the address of your event in Temple, and we will plan access and set-up. Temple is one of 764 places in Greater London where we cook.
For guests coming by train, Temple has its own station, London Blackfriars station. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Clement Danes CofE Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Wherever your event is in SE1, WC2H and WC2B, we can cook for your guests. From Shoe Lane, Drury Lane and New Square or a nearby road, we can cook there. You’ll find Temple on the A4 and A40, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Temple Bar (1 mile north), Blackfriars (1 mile east), Aldwych (1 mile west), Clare Market (1 mile north-west) and Covent Garden (1 mile west). We also cook in nearby towns such as 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 (3 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Liberty of the Savoy (within half a mile west) and Twinings Museum (under half a mile north-west). The countryside around Temple includes Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
- Nearby schools include London Nautical School (within half a mile south) and Mercers' School (less than half a mile north)
- Nearby, you will find The Devereux pub (under half a mile north-west)
- Other local spots include British Library of Political and Economic Science (less than half a mile north-west)
Paella compared with other options
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why us?
- A quote that spells everything out
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
What paella catering costs
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Travel, parking and access
- Guest numbers
- The paellas you choose
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What we need to know
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of where we’d cook
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
- 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