Greater London · England
Paella Party Catering for Chinatown events
Treat your guests to live paella at your party in Chinatown. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Garden get-togethers
- Street parties and neighbourhood get-togethers
Book paella party catering in Chinatown
Should I cook it myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
How our paella party catering works in Chinatown
Tapas first, churros after and sangria throughout, and the whole menu is sorted. Whether it’s engagement and anniversary parties and retirement and leaving parties, we can cook vegetable paella, tapas and chicken and chorizo paella and more.
Most parties in Chinatown are in back gardens, which in London can be compact. A level spot away from fences and trees, plus parking nearby, is all we need. A picture of the garden helps. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
- Where
- Chinatown (W1F, W1D, W1T)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Is live paella right for your party?
If you want special but not formal, live paella is hard to beat. Larger events normally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Why us?
- Sangria and bar staff available
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
The menu, dish by dish
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock, for the fish lovers.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Chicken and chorizo is a crowd-pleaser.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
As a London location, Chinatown 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 will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Chinatown
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Tapas
Nearby places to Chinatown
Also in Chinatown
Chinatown parties: what to know
Chinatown is about 1 mile east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. Parties in Chinatown are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cater in all 764 towns and villages in Greater London.
Parks such as St Anne's Churchyard normally need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as St Anne's Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
For paella party catering in W1F, W1D and W1T, we plan around your venue and your guests. That could mean a party in a garden on Duck Lane, Drury Lane and Bruton Lane or the roads around them. Chinatown is on the A4 and A301, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Close by, we cover parties in Soho (1 mile north), St James's (1 mile south), West End (1 mile north-east), Seven Dials (1 mile north-east) and St Giles (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Kensington (3 miles west), Shoreditch (3 miles north-east), Walthamstow (7 miles north-east), Hoxton (3 miles north-east), Whitechapel (3 miles east) and Hampstead (4 miles north-west).
A little further out are St James Workhouse (less than half a mile north-west) and Leverian collection (under half a mile south-east). Not far away are Barnsbury Wood and St. James's Park Lake.
- Schools near Chinatown include LITE Regal International School (0.6 miles west) and Harris Westminster Sixth Form (0.8 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include Waxy O'Connor's pub (less than half a mile south-west)
- Other local spots include London Library (within half a mile south-west) and Westminster St James (under half a mile south-west)
For event organisers in Chinatown
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We are happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- The paellas you choose
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Whether you need crockery
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Expected numbers
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the space, if you can
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your party, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Common questions in Chinatown
Is parking a problem for events in Chinatown?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We will work around it.
Can you cook in St Anne's Churchyard?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Will the neighbours notice?
There is a cooking smell, but much less smoke than a barbecue, and it is a good smell. Let the neighbours know.
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. For a late-May party in Chinatown, sunset is around 8:50pm; at midsummer it is about 9:20pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- We check your date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Who books paella party catering in Chinatown?
It feels like a holiday in your own garden.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Street and neighbourhood parties
- Naming days and christenings
- Garden get-togethers
- Anniversary celebrations
For guests coming by train, Tottenham Court Road station is in Chinatown itself.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the team stays
- How bad weather is handled
- When final numbers are due
- Space, access and power needs
- 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