Surrey · England
Festival & event paella in Dorking, Surrey
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Dorking and the surrounding area.
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Sports club events
- VIP and hospitality areas
Book festival paella catering in Dorking
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Put all trader information in one pack
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
Our pitch is kept tidy and safe throughout the day.
Extra pans for busy periods.
How our festival paella catering works in Dorking
One paella stall covers many diets: separate meat, seafood and vegan pans. That simplifies your food line-up. Whether it’s county and country shows and sports club events, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, giant-pan paella and seafood paella and more.
In Dorking, a good food stall can make an event. One paella pitch covers several diets. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
For event organisers in Dorking
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Dorking? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell usually draws people over. At midsummer, events in Dorking stay light until about 9:20pm, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- You send us the event, dates and pitch details.
- We confirm our menu, pitch needs and documents.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- At the end, we clear our pitch.
How to prepare
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Ask for a quote
Thinking about festival paella catering for your event in Dorking? Send us the details and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
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Events we cater in Dorking
It adds theatre to a food line-up.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Dorking and Surrey:
- Charity and school events
- Village fêtes
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Open days
School fairs, for a school like St Paul's CofE (Aided) Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
What to look for in a quote
- The deadline for final numbers
- When payment is due
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- Whether travel is included
What else we do in Dorking
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
Dorking events: pitches and permissions
Dorking is about 10 miles north-west of Crawley, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Dorking will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Dorking is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Dorking to Guildford (11 miles away).
For visitors coming by rail, Dorking Deepdene station is about 0.6 miles away. If your event is in Deepdene Terrace, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission; we’ll supply our paperwork. Within about 2 miles is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Anywhere in RH4 and RH5, we can cook for your guests. Your event could be at a home on High Street, Station Road and London Road. Dorking sits on or near the A24 and A25, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Pixham (1 mile north-east), North Holmwood (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north), Westcott (2 miles west) and Blackbrook (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (11 miles west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north), Horley (8 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Mesolithic Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Headley Court (4.8 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
- Schools near Dorking include The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north) and The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Wheatsheaf Public House (within half a mile north-west)
- Other local spots include Pippbrook House (0.5 miles north)
FAQs for Dorking
How far is Dorking from London?
About 21 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Could we have live paella in Deepdene Terrace?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
What does festival paella catering cost?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
How many different paellas?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Will there be long queues?
Paella is cooked in big batches and served from the pan, so service is quick.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Why choose live paella in Dorking?
Burger stalls are common. A paella pan stands out in a food line-up. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Events in Dorking and across Surrey
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
How we price festival paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Your choice of paellas
- How many courses
- Parking and unloading
- Timings and hours
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Details that help
Good planning starts with a few facts. Please include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Roughly how many adults and children
It is easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll come back with a clear quote.
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Spacing from tents and other structures
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- Vehicle access before and after the event
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- 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