Surrey · England
Festival Paella Catering in Shortheath
We cook paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Shortheath and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Agricultural and county shows
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
Live festival paella catering in Shortheath
About our festival paella catering in Shortheath
We cook at festivals, fairs, markets, school and charity events, sports days and open days in and around Shortheath. Popular choices include seafood paella, churros and vegan paella, and we’re often booked for community events and open days and farmers’ and Christmas markets.
For a village fête or field event near Shortheath, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Tell us about the ground and access. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
What happens on the day
Your timings come first. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. Evening events in Shortheath have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- It starts with your event details and pitch information.
- You get our menu, pitch requirements and paperwork.
- We set up at the agreed time.
- We cook in front of the crowd and serve from the pan all event.
- At the end, we clear our pitch.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can use our quote form.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Fast service from the pan
- Catering across Surrey, including Shortheath
See Our pricing And The cost guide.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Why choose festival paella catering in Shortheath?
Organisers book paella because it draws people into the food area and serves them fast.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Shortheath, people book us for occasions like:
- Race days and sports events
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- Seasonal markets
School fairs, for a school like St Peter's CofE Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
Before booking anyone
- VAT, if it applies
- Whether travel is included
- Staff numbers and hours
- Allergen information for each dish
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Running an event in Shortheath
Shortheath is about 1 mile south-west of Farnham, in Surrey. Whether your event is in the middle of Shortheath or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 11 miles away.
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as St Peter's Church, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. For visitors coming by rail, Farnham station is about 1.3 miles away. Events in and around the Surrey Hills National Landscape, within about 7 miles of Shortheath, often have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we work to the site rules.
This part of Surrey takes in GU9 and GU10, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Shortheath Road, Little Thurbans Close and Sunnydell Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Shortheath is on the B3384, so it’s easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Shortheath, we cover Wrecclesham (1 mile west), Boundstone (1 mile south), Rowledge (1 mile south-west), Holt Pound (1 mile south-west) and Bucks Horn Oak (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (11 miles east), Woking (13 miles north-east), Camberley (10 miles north), Frimley (9 miles north-east), Haslemere (8 miles south-east) and Cranleigh (15 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Farnham Castle (1.6 miles north) and Museum of Farnham (1.2 miles north). Open spaces near Shortheath include Aunt's Pool and Farnham Heath.
- Local schools include Weydon School (0.5 miles north-west) and Weydon School (0.5 miles north-west)
- Local pubs include The Royal Oak Public House (0.5 miles west)
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Give traders a single information pack
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Ask about peak-time capacity
We arrive at the agreed time and set up our pitch, following your trader pack.
Crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Your trader pack and site rules
- A pitch away from tents and structures
- Firm, level ground
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
- Vegan paella
- Tapas
- Giant paella pans
Also near Shortheath
What else we do in Shortheath
Shortheath: your questions answered
Can you cook in Underdown nature reserve?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
What about pudding?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Should we have more than one paella?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Do you do crew catering?
We can. We can cook for crew, volunteers or a hospitality area as well as, or instead of, a public stall.
What’s in the pans
Giant paella pans
It is the huge pan people come to see.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Popular with families.
- 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