Greater London · England
Paella party catering in Shirley, Greater London
Bring the theatre of live paella to your party in Shirley. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Garden get-togethers
Planning an event in Shirley?
Planning a party in Shirley
Shirley is about 2 miles north-east of Croydon, in Greater London. For paella party catering in Shirley, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices. We cover all 764 towns and villages across Greater London. Our events stretch from Shirley to London (about 8 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Addington Palace (1.7 miles south) and Kingswood House (3.6 miles north). Grand settings like these frequently have strict catering rules, so for most parties a garden or hired hall is simpler. Local halls and clubs near Shirley are an option if the garden is small.
We cater parties across the CR0, SE25 and CR9 postcode area. From Poppy Lane, Homer Road and Craven Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. Shirley sits on or near the A232, which makes travel to your party easy. For parties just outside Shirley, we cover Monks Orchard (1 mile north), Shirley Oaks (1 mile west), Addiscombe (1 mile west), Ashburton (1 mile north-west) and Woodside (1 mile north-west). Larger places within reach include London (8 miles north), City of Westminster (10 miles north-west), Marylebone (10 miles north-west), Kensington (10 miles north-west), St Pancras (10 miles north) and Shoreditch (10 miles north).
Nearby you will also find National Psychosis Unit (1 mile east) and Addiscombe (1.2 miles west). The countryside around Shirley includes Duppas Hill and Bramley Bank.
- Schools near Shirley include Orchard Way Primary School (0.6 miles east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Cricketers pub (within half a mile west)
About our paella party catering in Shirley
Paella is relaxed food: served from the pan, shared and enjoyed, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. We cook churros, tapas and vegetable paella, and we’re often booked for christenings and naming days and retirement and leaving parties.
In Shirley, 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. A photo of the garden helps. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Area
- Shirley (CR0, SE25, CR9)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Towns and villages near Shirley
Also in Shirley
Shirley: your questions answered
Which station should guests use for Shirley?
The closest is Elmers End station, roughly 1.2 miles away.
We’re having a ceremony at St George The Martyr Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
When do you arrive?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Shirley.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Is my garden big enough?
Often, yes, if there’s a level spot clear of fences and trees. Send a photo and we’ll check.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
The process
Here’s how the day usually runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. For a late-May party in Shirley, sunset is around 8:50pm; at midsummer it’s about 9:20pm. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- We check your date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- We set up the burners and start the sofrito.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- It is served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
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.
Planning help
Dietary needs and planning tips
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Warn the neighbours
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Give separate numbers for children
- Have cover ready for a shower
Booked staff help serve and clear.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges round off the meal.
What’s in the pans
Chicken & chorizo paella
Chicken and chorizo is a crowd-pleaser, though it isn’t traditional in Valencia.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
Shirley 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.
Popular choices
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Churros
Prices and what affects them
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Travel, parking and access
- How many courses
- Waiting and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- The date and rough timings
- Which courses you have in mind
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of where we’d cook
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Shirley? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Why choose paella party catering in Shirley?
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from toddlers to grandparents.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Shirley:
- Garden get-togethers
- Celebrations of life
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Neighbourhood celebrations
After a christening at a church like St George The Martyr Church, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
Questions to ask before you book
- Who provides the crockery
- Space, access and power needs
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How long the team stays
- 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