Greater London · England
Paella Party Catering for Forestdale events
Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Forestdale: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Big birthdays
Paella party catering in Forestdale
Paella party catering for your party in Forestdale
The smell of paella cooking is the best party invitation. Guests gather round, glass in hand, to watch. We’re often asked to cater big birthdays and naming days and christenings, serving churros, vegetable paella and tapas.
In Forestdale, a back-garden party is the usual choice, even if the garden is small. A level spot away from fences and trees, plus parking nearby, is all we need. Send a photo of the garden. You will know exactly what’s included before booking: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
- Location
- Forestdale (CR0, CR2)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Who books paella party catering in Forestdale?
It’s generous and sociable, perfect for celebrations where people want to mingle.
Whatever you are celebrating in Forestdale, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Baby celebrations
- Family get-togethers
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Summer garden parties
After a christening at a church like St Francis, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
Before booking anyone
- Whether travel is included
- What happens if it rains
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When final numbers are due
Hosting a paella party in Forestdale
Forestdale is about 3 miles south-east of Croydon, in Greater London. For paella party catering in Forestdale, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cover all 764 towns and villages across Greater London. Our nearest city page is London, about 11 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Addington Palace (0.9 miles north) and Down House (4 miles east). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. Thinking of a party in Addington Park? Cooking in a public park typically needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first.
Paella party catering in CR0 and CR2 is planned around your venue. Whether your party is on Courtwood Lane, Goldfinch Road and Bardolph Avenue or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. If your venue is just outside Forestdale, we also cover Selsdon (1 mile west), New Addington (1 mile east), Addington (1 mile north), Farleigh (1 mile south) and Fickleshole (2 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include London (11 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north-west), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (13 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Warlingham Park Hospital (1.9 miles south) and Croydon Airport Visitor Centre (3.5 miles west). Open spaces near Forestdale include Nore Hill and Hutchinson's Bank.
- Nearby schools include John Ruskin College (0.5 miles north-west)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Have bins ready
- Let the neighbours know
- Add a diet question to the invitation
We keep the cooking area tidy and safe, with space kept clear around the burners.
A jug of sangria sets the tone.
Your questions about paella party catering in Forestdale
Which station should guests use for Forestdale?
The closest is Sanderstead station, roughly 2.4 miles away.
What about parking in Forestdale?
London parking needs planning: let us know about permits or off-street space. We will plan unloading around it.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
Do you cater for children?
Most children enjoy paella, particularly a simple chicken pan. Let us know numbers and ages.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, on request. Let us know your halal numbers, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. If in doubt, send a photo.
For planners, venues and organisers
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Step by step
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell usually draws people over. At midsummer, it is light in Forestdale until about 9:20pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. In late September it’s dark by about 7:05pm; add lights for the evening.
- We check your date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- 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.
How to prepare
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Give us a contact for the day
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
Planning help
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Your choice of paellas
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- How many guests are eating
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What to tell us
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Which courses you have in mind
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Where the event is
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your party, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
The menu, dish by dish
Chicken & chorizo paella
It’s one of the most popular pans at parties.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock.
Is live paella right for your party?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you are a guest too. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why us?
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Towns and villages near Forestdale
More for events in Forestdale
- 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