Greater London · England
Paella Party Catering for Riddlesdown events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in Riddlesdown.
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Neighbourhood celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
Live paella party catering in Riddlesdown
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is often the showpiece.
Vegetable paella
A proper vegetable paella, not an afterthought.
About our paella party catering in Riddlesdown
You get to enjoy your own party: no shopping, no cooking, no hours at the stove. The food is our job. For birthday parties and wakes and celebrations of life, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and mixed paella for your guests.
In Riddlesdown, a back-garden party is the usual choice, even if the garden is small. We need a level spot clear of fences and trees, and somewhere to park and unload. Send a picture of the garden. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
- Where
- Riddlesdown (CR8, CR2)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. A summer party in Riddlesdown stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, so a garden party can run well into the evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- Send us the date, the address, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote.
- On the day we arrive, set up our cooking area and start cooking.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan and clear our cooking area away when we are done.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Ask for a quote
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Related guides
FAQs for Riddlesdown
Can you cook in Dollypers Hill?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What about parking in Riddlesdown?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll work around it.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know and we’ll add it to the quote.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How long does the paella take?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you.
Do you come to Riddlesdown?
We do. Riddlesdown is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Can you bring crockery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Have enough chairs for most guests
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Make sure children stay back from the pans
- Let the neighbours know
When you’re ready to eat, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
Churros with chocolate are a hit with children and adults.
Events we cater in Riddlesdown
It is sociable food, perfect for celebrations where people want to mingle.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Family reunions
- Retirement celebrations
- Big birthdays
Historic houses near Riddlesdown include Addington Palace (3 miles north-east). Grand settings like these often have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether VAT is included
- How late numbers can change
Planning the cooking area
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Riddlesdown 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 in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
On the menu in Riddlesdown
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
What paella party catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Whether you need crockery
- Waiting and bar staff
- The length of service
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
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- Where the event is
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your party, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, fill in our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
DIY catering saves money but costs you time. With live paella, you’re a guest too. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- We cover Riddlesdown and the whole of Greater London
Places near Riddlesdown
Other catering in Riddlesdown
Hosting a paella party in Riddlesdown
Riddlesdown is about 1 mile east of Purley, in Greater London. We bring paella party catering to homes, gardens and venues in Riddlesdown. We cover 764 places in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is London, about 12 miles away.
Parks such as Dollypers Hill normally need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as St Edmund's Church, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
We cater parties across CR8 and CR2 and the streets around it. From Hyde Road, Lower Road and Famet Avenue or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. With the A22 close by, Riddlesdown is simple for us to get to. If your venue is just outside Riddlesdown, we also cover Kenley (1 mile south), Sanderstead (1 mile north-east), South Croydon (2 miles north), Hamsey Green (2 miles south-east) and Whyteleafe (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover London (12 miles north), City of Westminster (13 miles north), Marylebone (13 miles north), Kensington (13 miles north), St Pancras (14 miles north) and Shoreditch (13 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Purley War Memorial Hospital (1 mile north-west) and St George's Walk (2.9 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Duppas Hill and Foxley Wood.
- Nearby schools include Riddlesdown Collegiate (0.5 miles south-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include County Borough of Croydon (2.8 miles north)
- 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