Surrey · England
Festival Paella Catering in Merstham
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events turns food into part of your event in Merstham.
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- Sports club events
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
Festival paella catering near Merstham
Who books festival paella catering in Merstham?
Organisers book paella because it draws people into the food area and serves them fast.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Community events and open days
- VIP and hospitality areas
- Country shows
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Merstham station, about 0.5 miles south.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The deadline for final numbers
- If the price includes VAT
Festival paella catering for your event in Merstham
The pans are part of the attraction. People stop, watch and come back to eat. Typical bookings include county and country shows and open days, serving seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and giant-pan paella.
A fête near Merstham might be on a field with no mains power; let us know and we will plan for it. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
About the dishes
Chicken & chorizo paella
A crowd-pleaser for meat eaters.
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
How we price festival paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The paellas you choose
- Travel, parking and access
Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and rough timings
- The venue or postcode
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, fill in our quote form.
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll talk you through the process. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Before you choose a spot
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- A pitch away from tents and structures
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
- Trader information and site rules
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
The process
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Summer events in Merstham have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Tell us about the event and pitch.
- We send our menu, needs and paperwork.
- We arrive and set up at the agreed time.
- We cook in full view and serve all event.
- We pack down and tidy the pitch.
Before we arrive
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
How to get a price
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Places near Merstham
What else we do in Merstham
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Provide seating near the food
- Schedule crew meals
- Give traders a single information pack
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
We keep our pitch tidy and safe throughout the day.
Vegan paella alongside the rest.
Questions from Merstham
Is Merstham close to London?
About 16 miles from central London.
Could we have live paella in Nutfield Marshes?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Do you take everything away?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Can we book you as a trader?
Tell us about the event, dates and pitch, and we will let you know if we’re available.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you’re not sure.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Of course. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
Do you have vegan options at events?
Absolutely. Vegan paella is cooked in its own pan.
Merstham events: pitches and permissions
Merstham is about 2 miles north of Redhill, in Surrey. We bring festival paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Merstham. Merstham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover. You can also see our page for London, about 16 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as Merstham Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Running a fête for a church like Church of St Katharine? A paella pan draws people in. Events in and around the Surrey Hills National Landscape, within about 8 miles of Merstham, often have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we work to the site rules.
We cater events across the RH1 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on London Road North, Shepherd's Hill and Church Hill or the roads around them. If your venue is just outside Merstham, we also cover South Merstham (1 mile south), Gatton (1 mile south-west), Holmethorpe (1 mile south), Hooley (2 miles north) and Netherne on-the-Hill (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Epsom (7 miles north-west), Horley (6 miles south), Ewell (7 miles north-west), Reigate (3 miles south-west), Walton-on-Thames (14 miles north-west) and Caterham (3 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Surrey Fire Museum (2.8 miles south-west) and Bletchingley Castle (2.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Merstham include South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Colley Hill.
- Nearby schools include Merstham Park School (0.9 miles south) and East Surrey College (1.4 miles south-west)
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. We take care of all of it.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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 be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
- 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