Greater London · England
Paella catering in CR2
Live paella catering across CR2, covering South Croydon, Selsdon and Sanderstead. Weddings, parties, work events and festivals, with every diet catered for.
Paella catering in CR2
Towns and villages in CR2
- South Croydon
- Selsdon
- Sanderstead
- Croydon
- Purley
- Waddon
- Forestdale
- Kenley
- Riddlesdown
- Hamsey Green
- Addington
- Coombe
What we do in CR2
- Live paella catering
- Paella party catering
- Festival & event paella
- Tapas & canapé catering
- Wedding paella catering
- Corporate paella catering
- See all our catering
Tell us your date, numbers and venue and we’ll reply with a menu and a price: send us your details through our quote form.
Our paella catering in CR2
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. Popular choices include paella Valenciana, black rice and seafood paella, and we are frequently booked for garden get-togethers and anniversary celebrations.
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Cost
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- We cover CR2 and the whole of Greater London
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll make suggestions. Start when you are ready: fill in our quote form.
Landmarks near South Croydon
You’ll find us cooking near Rutherford School, Purley Oaks Primary School and Duppas Hill. Also close by are Harris Academy Purley (0.6 miles west), Church of St Augustine (less than half a mile west) and The Purley Arms (within half a mile south-west). There’s a railway station in South Croydon itself: Sanderstead station, handy for guests travelling by train. A little further out are St George's Walk (1.4 miles north) and Purley War Memorial Hospital (1.2 miles south-west). For a walk before or after the party, there’s Roundshaw Downs and Duppas Hill.
- Parks and local facilities nearby include County Borough of Croydon (1.3 miles north)
Live paella across CR2: what to know
CR2 covers everything from Croydon, Purley and Waddon to 3 small villages and hamlets, and live paella suits every kind of setting. Town events mean planning parking; village events mean planning access.
South Croydon: If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Augustine, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, South Croydon has its own station, Sanderstead station. In South Croydon, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
Events we cater in CR2
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Is live paella right for you?
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. Service from the pan keeps queues moving.
Comparing caterers
- The wet-weather plan
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- If the price includes VAT
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a proper main dish. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Catering for every guest
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Tell us what else is being served
- Ask for labels on each pan
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
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:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Somewhere close to park and unload
Common questions in CR2
Do you clear up afterwards?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will talk it through before the day.
When do you arrive?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan a pan with them in mind.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
- 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