Greater London · England
Wedding Paella Catering for Catford events
Paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Catford: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Garden and marquee weddings
- Wedding receptions after a small ceremony
- Relaxed sharing-style wedding breakfasts
Wedding paella catering near Catford
About our wedding paella catering in Catford
Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff can be added, so the catering fits the way you want your day to feel. On the menu are a paella wedding breakfast, Spanish desserts and table tapas, and we’re regularly asked to cater receptions after an intimate ceremony and barn and farm weddings.
Couples in Catford frequently marry locally and hold the reception at a venue or garden nearby. Live paella works well at both, as long as there is a ventilated spot to cook. In London, parking and loading need planning early. Everything is cooked from scratch at your wedding, not reheated.
- Area
- Catford (SE6, BR1)
- Region
- Greater London
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Catford weddings: local tips
Catford is about 5 miles east of Streatham, in Greater London. We cook at weddings in homes, gardens and venues in Catford and nearby villages. We cater in all 764 towns and villages in Greater London, from the larger towns to small villages.
Downham Woodland Walk nearby makes a lovely backdrop for photos. Nearby historic houses include Eltham Palace (2.8 miles east) and Queen's House (2.8 miles north). Historic houses and estates often have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that is your venue.
Anywhere in SE6 and BR1, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Your wedding could be at a home on Bargery Road, Penerley Road and Inchmery Road. Neighbouring places where we cater weddings include Bellingham (1 mile south-west), Southend (1 mile south-west), Ladywell (1 mile north), Hither Green (1 mile north-east) and Bell Green (1 mile south-west). Larger places within reach include London (5 miles north-west), City of Westminster (8 miles north-west), Marylebone (8 miles north-west), Kensington (9 miles north-west), St Pancras (7 miles north-west) and Shoreditch (6 miles north-west).
Nearby you’ll also find Prefab Museum (0.7 miles south-east) and Lewisham Shopping Centre (1.4 miles north). Open spaces near Catford include Downham Woodland Walk and Knight's Hill.
- Schools near Catford include Conisborough College (0.5 miles south) and Trinity Church of England School (1.4 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The London & Rye pub (less than half a mile north)
- Other local spots include Nunhead (2.5 miles north-west)
Step by step
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. In Catford, midsummer sunset is about 9:20pm, and by late September it’s nearer 7:05pm, which means evening paella is generally served in daylight in June and July. Later in the year, plan lighting: in December it is dark by about 3:55pm.
- We start with your date, venue, numbers and ideas.
- We plan a menu with you, course by course, and confirm a quote.
- We agree timings with you and your venue, including speeches and photos.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- We clear our cooking area, and staff stay as agreed.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Where we can cook in Catford
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
Catford is in London, within the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking can be tight: let us know about permits, bays or off-street parking.
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Catford
- Dessert
- Canapé tapas
- Paella wedding breakfast
- Sangria & bar staff
- Table tapas
- Evening paella
Paella compared with other options
Choosing between paella and a traditional menu?, consider your venue, diets and the style you want. There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. Your quote spells it all out.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Events in Catford and across Greater London
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Catford: your questions answered
Could we have live paella in Forster Memorial Park?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Laurence and Community Centre: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a picture.
Can you liaise with the venue coordinator?
Yes, and it saves you passing messages. Put us in touch and we will agree the details.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll suggest a split based on your guests.
What affects the price in Catford
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- How many staff you need
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The length of service
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The address or venue name
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and rough timings
Planning wedding paella catering in Catford? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just use our quote form.
About the dishes
Canapé tapas
Canapé tapas fill the gap before the meal.
Table tapas
A tapas starter gets tables talking before the paella arrives.
What else we do in Catford
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Planners, venues and businesses
Hosting a party at home? Send a photo of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Planning for every diet
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Confirm the venue’s catering rules early
- Give us separate day and evening numbers
- Tell us when speeches will be
- Book early for summer Saturdays
If speeches or photos run over, tell us, and we’ll adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh.
Spanish desserts, or your own wedding cake, finish the meal.
- 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