Greater London · England
Paella Party Catering for St Paul's Cray events
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 Paul's Cray.
- Celebrations of life
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big family gatherings
Planning an event in St Paul's Cray?
How we price paella party catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How long we are needed on site
- Guest numbers
- How many courses
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Anything your venue supplies
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Expected numbers
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
How our paella party catering works in St Paul's Cray
Live paella suits birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer parties. The cooking is the centrepiece, and the food is served hot and generous. Popular choices include vegetable paella, churros and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are regularly asked to cater birthday parties and engagement and anniversary parties.
In St Paul's Cray, 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 photo of the garden. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Area
- St Paul's Cray (BR5, BR7)
- Area hub
- Greater London
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Party venues around St Paul's Cray
St Paul's Cray is about 1 mile north of Orpington, in Greater London. Tell us where your party in St Paul's Cray will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in all 764 towns and villages across Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is London, about 11 miles away.
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as St Barnabas, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards. If guests are coming by rail, St Paul's Cray has its own station, St Mary Cray station. St Paul's Cray is within about 6 miles of the Kent Downs National Landscape, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Here we cover the BR5 and BR7 postcode area. Local streets include Main Road, Murray Road and Rushet Road; a party at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside St Paul's Cray, we also cover St Mary Cray (1 mile south), Poverest (1 mile south), Derry Downs (1 mile south), Orpington (1 mile south) and Kevington (2 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover London (11 miles north-west), City of Westminster (14 miles north-west), Marylebone (14 miles north-west), Kensington (15 miles north-west), St Pancras (13 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (12 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Lullingstone Castle (4.8 miles south-east) and London Borough of Bromley Museum (1.5 miles south). Open spaces near St Paul's Cray include The Warren and Summer Hill.
- Local schools include Walsingham School (less than half a mile north) and Kemnal Technology College (0.9 miles north)
- Local pubs include The Blue Anchor Public House (0.5 miles south-east)
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable paella
A vegetable pan means vegetarians eat well, and meat eaters frequently try it too.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella typically gets the photos.
Who books paella party catering in St Paul's Cray?
One big dish is simpler than lots of small ones, and there is little waste.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Baby celebrations
- Wakes and celebrations of life
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Big birthdays
Thinking of a party in Chislehurst Common? Cooking in a public park generally needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first.
Comparing caterers
- The deposit and payment dates
- If the price includes VAT
- Whether travel is included
- A clear list of what’s included
The process
Here’s how the day typically runs: we set up the pans and start the sofrito, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. Sunset in St Paul's Cray is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. After dark, the cooking area needs good lighting.
- First, we check the 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.
- We serve hot and tidy our area afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
FAQs for St Paul's Cray
What’s the nearest station to St Paul's Cray for guests?
St Mary Cray station, in St Paul's Cray itself.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Barnabas?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Where do you cater?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
How much does paella party catering cost in St Paul's Cray?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Will it be noisy or smoky?
Paella is cooked over gas, so there is cooking steam and smell but little smoke. The smell is typically the best advert for the party.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Have enough chairs for most guests
- Ask guests about diets when you invite them
- Plan where rubbish goes
- Have cover ready for a shower
After service, we pack down, leaving you to carry on celebrating.
Churros with chocolate are a hit with children and adults.
Organising for someone else?
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
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 will work to it.
Towns and villages near St Paul's Cray
What else we do in St Paul's Cray
Why choose live paella in St Paul's Cray?
Hog roasts do not suit vegetarians and vegans. Paella covers everyone with separate pans. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
What you get with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Events in St Paul's Cray and across Greater London
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our prices page Or The cost guide.
- 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