Greater London · England
Paella Party Catering in St Johns
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events in St Johns.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family get-togethers
- Birthday parties
Paella party catering near St Johns
About our paella party catering in St Johns
Homes, gardens, clubs and hired venues all work. Typical bookings include garden parties and summer barbecues and birthday parties, with churros, tapas and mixed paella.
Planning a London party in St Johns? Live paella keeps you out of the kitchen, and works in gardens, on patios and at hired venues. Tell us about parking permits. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- St Johns (SE13, SE10, SE8)
- County
- Greater London
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Your questions about paella party catering in St Johns
Can you cook in Brookmill Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St John: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How many paellas should we have?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Which areas do you serve?
We cater across London and the South East, including Greater London. See all areas.
Can you cook in my back garden?
Frequently, yes, if there is a level spot clear of fences and trees. Send a picture and we’ll check.
Is paella OK for kids?
Paella is popular with children, particularly a simple chicken pan. Let us know numbers and ages.
Other catering in St Johns
For event organisers in St Johns
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in St Johns? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
If you are booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Space, weather and the venue
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- A photo of the garden helps us check the space
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
As a London location, St Johns is inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking takes planning: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
Party venues around St Johns
St Johns is about 4 miles south-east of London, in Greater London. Whether your party is in the middle of St Johns or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in all 764 towns and villages in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of St John, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. If your garden is too small, local venues and clubs near St Johns can be an alternative, as long as there is outdoor space to cook.
Here we cover the SE13, SE10 and SE8 postcode area, and we can cater your party anywhere in it. Your party could be at a home on Avon Road, Mill Lane and Clare Road or the roads around them. You will find St Johns on the A2210 and A2211, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. Other places close to St Johns for paella party catering include New Cross (1 mile west), Deptford (1 mile north), Lewisham (1 mile south-east), Telegraph Hill (1 mile west) and Ladywell (1 mile south). We also cook in nearby towns such as London (4 miles north-west), City of Westminster (6 miles north-west), Marylebone (6 miles north-west), Kensington (8 miles west), St Pancras (6 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (5 miles north-west).
A little further out are Miller General Hospital (less than half a mile north) and Nunhead (1.4 miles west). The countryside around St Johns includes Brookmill Road Local Nature Reserve and Tower Hill.
- Schools near St Johns include Addey and Stanhope School (within half a mile north-west) and Laban Centre (0.8 miles north)
- Local pubs include Wickham Arms (0.5 miles west)
Live paella or other catering?
A takeaway order 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. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Why us?
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Fast service from the pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. A summer party in St Johns stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:05pm; add lights for the evening.
- We check your date and the space.
- You choose your paellas and any extras.
- We set up the burners and start the sofrito.
- The rice goes in and your guests gather round.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we’re available that day.
Related guides
What paella party catering costs
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
- Guest numbers
- The length of service
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of the space, if you can
- The courses you’d like
- Anything your venue supplies
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Events we cater in St Johns
It suits mixed ages and mixed diets, from toddlers to grandparents.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In St Johns, people book us for occasions like:
- Christenings and naming days
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Milestone birthdays
- Neighbourhood celebrations
If guests are coming by rail, St Johns station is in St Johns itself.
Questions to ask before you book
- When final numbers are due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Payment terms and deposit
- How bad weather is handled
Catering for every guest
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
- Let the neighbours know
- Have bins ready
- Plan seats for most guests
We arrive before your guests to set up, so the cooking is under way as people arrive.
A jug of sangria sets the tone, with an alcohol-free version for drivers and children.
- 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