Surrey · England
Festival & event paella in Compton, Surrey
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Compton and the surrounding area.
- Food and music festivals
- Sports clubs and race days
- Village fêtes
Live festival paella catering in Compton
Festival paella catering for your event in Compton
Paella eats well from a bowl with a fork, standing up or sitting on the grass. We are frequently asked to cater county and country shows and feeding crew and volunteers, with chicken and chorizo paella, giant-pan paella and churros.
At a field event near Compton, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we’ll plan around it. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Compton questions
Could we have live paella in Pucks Oak Barn and McAlmont Reserves?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for Compton?
The closest is Farncombe station, roughly 1.6 miles away.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
How do you work out quantities?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Can you provide dessert?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
How it works
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. For an evening event in Compton, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Send us your event details and pitch information.
- We send our menu, needs and paperwork.
- We set up on time.
- We cook in full view and serve all event.
- We clear and leave the pitch clean.
Getting ready for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Getting a price
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Read more
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
- A level pitch on firm ground
- Room for our cooking and serving area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- We cover Compton and the whole of Surrey
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Places near Compton
More for events in Compton
Community events around Compton
Compton is about 3 miles south-west of Guildford, in Surrey. Across the GU3 area, we can cook for your guests. Compton is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover.
Events in parks such as Pucks Oak Barn and McAlmont Reserves need permission from the council or landowner, and we will send any documents they ask for. For visitors coming by rail, Farncombe station is about 1.6 miles away. Within about 8 miles is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Wherever your event is in GU3, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. That could mean an event in a garden on The Street, Spiceall and Almsgate. For events just outside Compton, we cover Hurtmore (1 mile south), Binscombe (1 mile south-east), Littleton (1 mile east), Shackleford (2 miles south-west) and Onslow Village (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (3 miles north-east), Woking (7 miles north), Camberley (9 miles north-west), Farnham (7 miles west), Egham (15 miles north) and Walton-on-Thames (15 miles north-east).
A little further out are Charterhouse School Museum (1.2 miles south) and Guildford Castle (2.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Farncombe Wood and Frith Hill.
- Schools near Compton include Prior's Field School (1 mile west) and Broadwater School (1.8 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Harrow pub (less than half a mile west)
Dishes our guests love
Vegan paella
Vegans get a hot, filling dish.
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
For planners, venues and organisers
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Perfect for your event in Compton
It copes with peak times, thanks to big-batch cooking.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- Country shows
- Village fêtes
- Charity and school events
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
What to look for in a quote
- The wet-weather plan
- Travel and parking costs
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How long the team stays
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Check traders’ packaging and waste plans
- Send traders one clear trader pack
- Schedule crew meals
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
Allergen details are available at the stall, and each pan is labelled.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
- 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