Greater London · England
Paella Party Catering in St James's
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events turns food into part of your party in St James's.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family reunions
- Summer garden parties
Paella party catering in St James's
Paella party catering in St James's, cooked live
A paella party works in most gardens, as long as there’s a flat spot clear of fences and branches. Send us a photo if you are unsure. Popular choices include seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and vegetable paella, and we are regularly asked to cater milestone birthdays and neighbourhood celebrations.
In St James's, 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. A picture of the garden helps. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Area
- St James's (W1F, W1D, W1J)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Should I cook it myself?
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Also near St James's
What else we do in St James's
Who books paella party catering in St James's?
It is the easiest way to feed a party without being stuck in the kitchen, and it’s a talking point.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We regularly cater:
- Naming days and christenings
- Big birthdays
- Summer garden parties
- Celebrations of life
After a christening at a church like St James’s Church, a paella lunch is an easy way to feed family and friends.
What to look for in a quote
- Travel and parking costs
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether VAT is included
FAQs for St James's
What about parking in St James's?
It can be, so tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway. We’ll plan unloading around it.
Could we have live paella in St Anne's Churchyard?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
What about pudding?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one when you ask for a quote.
Do you bring plates and cutlery?
On request. Proper crockery or good-quality disposables can be added.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Is halal food available?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
How long do you need on site?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Keep a clear zone around the cooking area
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
- Count adults and children separately
- Have cover ready for a shower
When you are ready to eat, we serve straight from the pan.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
Is live paella right for your party?
Home-made buffets take ages and sit out for hours. Paella is cooked fresh and served hot. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What you get with us
- We cover St James's and the whole of Greater London
- Sangria and bar staff available
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
St James's is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: tell us about parking bays, permits or a driveway.
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Churros
- Paella Valenciana
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
Dishes our guests love
Chicken & chorizo paella
It is one of the most popular pans at parties, though it is not traditional in Valencia.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich stock.
What happens on the day
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. A summer party in St James's 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.
- We check your date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Getting a price
Planning paella party catering in St James's? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Planning a party in St James's
St James's is about 1 mile south-east of City of Westminster, in Greater London. For paella party catering in St James's, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around St James's. St James's is one of 764 places in Greater London we cover.
Parks such as St Anne's Churchyard normally need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. If guests are coming by rail, London Charing Cross station is in St James's itself.
We cover parties in every part of W1F, W1D and W1J and the streets around it. Your party could be at a home on Duck Lane, Bruton Lane and Bridle Lane. St James's is on the A4 and A400, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Close by, we cover parties in Chinatown (1 mile north), Charing Cross (1 mile east), Soho (1 mile north), West End (1 mile north-east) and Burlington Estate (1 mile west). 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).
Nearby you’ll also find St James Workhouse (less than half a mile north-west) and Montfichet's Tower (1.4 miles east). The countryside around St James's includes St. James's Park Lake and Ludgate Hill.
- Schools near St James's include LITE Regal International School (0.5 miles west) and Harris Westminster Sixth Form (0.6 miles south)
- Nearby, you will find Tom Cribb pub (under half a mile north-east)
- Other local spots include London Library (within half a mile south-west) and Westminster St James (under half a mile west)
What affects the price in St James's
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
- The number of people
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The address or venue name
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
- 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