Surrey · England
Festival & event paella in South Merstham, Surrey
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in South Merstham. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- VIP and hospitality areas
- County and country shows
Planning an event in South Merstham?
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- A level pitch on firm ground
- Clear information on power, water and waste
- Your trader pack and site rules
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
Festival paella catering in South Merstham, made fresh on the day
We arrive with our equipment and follow the site rules, from arrival times to waste. On the menu are seafood paella, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we are frequently booked for race days and sports events and festivals.
Summer fairs around South Merstham are often run by volunteers, so a trader who brings everything and needs little help is a bonus. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it is ready.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Check how many portions traders can serve
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
At the end, we clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Churros and tapas can join the menu.
For planners, venues and organisers
Organising a club, school or community event in South Merstham? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Events in public spaces, like parks, typically need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
What’s in the pans
Giant paella pans
It’s the huge pan people come to see.
Seafood paella
A seafood pan with prawns and mussels.
Towns and villages near South Merstham
Other catering in South Merstham
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Step by step
We work to your timings. If speeches run late or the photos take longer, we hold the paella at the right stage so it is served at its best. Summer events in South 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.
- We check your dates.
- We agree what we will serve and where.
- Burners and pans go up.
- Pans are cooking as gates open.
- We serve, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or RH1 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Community events around South Merstham
South Merstham is about 2 miles north-east of Redhill, in Surrey. Anywhere in RH1, we can bring the pans to you. South Merstham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for London, about 17 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, Merstham station is in South Merstham itself. Events in parks such as Nutfield Marshes need permission from the council or landowner, and we will send any documents they ask for. Within about 7 miles is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
This part of Surrey takes in RH1. Local streets include Station Road South, London Road South and Station Road; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside South Merstham, we cover Merstham (1 mile north), Holmethorpe (1 mile south-west), Gatton (1 mile west), Nutfield (2 miles south-east) and Redhill (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Epsom (7 miles north-west), Horley (6 miles south), Ewell (8 miles north-west), Reigate (3 miles south-west), Walton-on-Thames (14 miles north-west) and Caterham (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Bletchingley Castle (2.3 miles south-east) and The Belfry (1.7 miles south-west). Open spaces near South Merstham include Colley Hill and Mercers Lake.
- Nearby schools include Merstham Park School (under half a mile south-east) and East Surrey College (0.8 miles south-west)
What affects the price in South Merstham
The price comes down to a few factors:
- How many staff you need
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- The length of service
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Larger events typically cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The date and rough timings
- Roughly how many adults and children
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
FAQs for South Merstham
Do you trade at school fairs around South Merstham?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Which station should guests use for South Merstham?
Merstham station, in South Merstham itself.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do you cater for young children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
Who clears up?
We pack down our cooking area after service. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you feed our volunteers?
We can. Crew, volunteer and VIP catering is available, with or without a public stall.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Paella compared with other options
Hot-cabinet food lacks theatre. Paella cooking in full view sells itself. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
What you get with us
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
- 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