Greater London · England
Paella party catering in Downham, Greater London
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in Downham.
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Milestone birthdays
- Family get-togethers
Paella party catering for Downham events
Paella party catering in Downham, made fresh on the day
The smell of paella cooking is the best party invitation. People drift over with a drink to watch it cook. For milestone birthdays and garden get-togethers, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, churros and mixed paella and more.
Most parties in Downham are in back gardens, which in London can be compact. We need a level spot clear of fences and trees, and somewhere to park and unload. A picture of the garden helps. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Downham (BR1, SE6, SE12)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Events we cater in Downham
It’s sociable food, ideal when people want to mingle.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Downham:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family get-togethers
- Anniversary celebrations
- Street and neighbourhood parties
Nearby historic houses include Bromley Palace (1.7 miles south-east) and Eltham Palace (2.4 miles north-east). If you are hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first.
Before booking anyone
- The venue requirements
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Whether VAT is included
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Live paella or other catering?
Ordering in is easy but forgettable. Live paella gives guests a show. Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What you get with us
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Catering across Greater London, including Downham
- Sangria and bar staff available
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock, for the fish lovers.
Vegetable paella
Vegetable paella in its own right, with peppers, beans and artichokes.
Planning a party in Downham
Downham is about 2 miles north of Bromley, in Greater London. Anywhere in BR1, we’ll come to your venue or garden. We cater in 764 places in Greater London. We cook right across the region, from Downham to London (about 7 miles away).
If your garden is too small, local venues and clubs near Downham can be an alternative, as long as there is outdoor space to cook. For guests coming by train, Grove Park station is about 0.8 miles away.
We cater parties across BR1, SE6 and SE12 and the streets around it. Local streets include Shaw Road, Arcus Road and Brook Lane; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include Plaistow (1 mile south), Grove Park (1 mile north-east), Sundridge (1 mile south-east), Chinbrook (1 mile east) and Bellingham (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover London (7 miles north-west), City of Westminster (9 miles north-west), Marylebone (9 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (9 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (8 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Municipal Borough of Bromley (1.8 miles south) and Prefab Museum (0.7 miles north-west). The countryside around Downham includes Summer Hill and Downham Woodland Walk.
- Local schools include Bonus Pastor Catholic College (within half a mile west) and Holy Trinity College Bromley (1.4 miles south-east)
Also near Downham
What else we do in Downham
Step by step
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s still served fresh. At midsummer, it is light in Downham until about 9:20pm, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Tell us when and where, and how many.
- You get a menu and a quote.
- We arrive before your guests and set up.
- Guests watch the paella cook.
- We serve, then clear our area.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Read more
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Downham is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: 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 you book.
On the menu in Downham
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Churros
- Seafood paella
Downham questions
Which station should guests use for Downham?
Grove Park station, about 0.8 miles north-east of the centre.
We’re having a ceremony at St Barnabas: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is generally popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Is my garden big enough?
Usually, yes, if there’s a flat, open spot away from fences and branches. Send a photo and we will check.
Do you cater in Downham?
Yes, we do. Downham is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Will it be noisy or smoky?
There’s a cooking smell, but much less smoke than a barbecue, and it’s a good smell. Let the neighbours know.
What affects the price in Downham
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Waiting and bar staff
- The paellas you choose
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
The more we know about your party, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Add a diet question to the invitation
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
At food time, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
Working with your venue
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll let you know if live paella is a good fit.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
- 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