Greater London · England
Paella catering in W1J
Planning an event in W1J? We cover St James's, Westminster and Millbank and every street in between, with live paella cooked at your venue.
Book live paella in W1J
Places in W1J
What we do in W1J
- Festival & event paella
- Tapas & canapé catering
- Corporate paella catering
- Paella party catering
- Live paella catering
- Wedding paella catering
- See all our catering
Send us your event details and postcode for a quote: use our quote form.
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Areas we cover
How paella catering works in W1J
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Every pan is cooked on its own, so diets are easy to manage. We’re often asked to cater big birthdays and company summer parties, with seafood paella, vegetable paella and black rice.
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell normally draws people over.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Cost
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why hosts in W1J choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- A quote that spells everything out
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, send us your details through our quote form.
Landmarks near St James's
Locally, our events take us close to London Library, St Anne's Churchyard and Harris Westminster Sixth Form and the streets around them. You will also find Soho Parish CofE Primary School (within half a mile north), St James’s Church (less than half a mile west), LITE Regal International School (0.5 miles west) and Tom Cribb pub (within half a mile north-east). St James's has its own railway station: London Charing Cross station, handy for guests travelling by train. A little further out are 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.
- Other local spots include Westminster St James (within half a mile west)
Live paella across W1J: what to know
From St James's, Westminster and Millbank to 0 villages and hamlets, events across W1J range from town-centre venues to gardens and fields, and live paella suits every kind of setting. Town events mean planning parking; village events mean planning access.
St James's: Parks such as St Anne's Churchyard generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Soho Parish CofE Primary School, can book us as a food stall. In St James's, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
What’s in the pans
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Travel, parking and access
- Your choice of paellas
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We’ll send you a quote.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Occasions we cook for in W1J
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Here are some of the events we cook for around W1J:
- Birthday celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Naming days and family parties
Before you choose a spot
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
W1J questions
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can paella be the only main course?
It is a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Let us know if you’d like one in your enquiry.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Do you bring everything you need?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
What areas do you cover?
We cater across London and the South East, including Greater London. Find your area.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Typically we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
- 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