Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Alfold, Surrey
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Alfold. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Company summer parties
- Milestone birthday parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Book paella catering in Alfold
Alfold: your questions answered
Is Alfold too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Could we have live paella in Fir Tree Copse?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
How much does paella catering cost in Alfold?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it is the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
How does live paella catering work?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you are ready to eat.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it’s soon.
Can you bring crockery?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Tell us what the venue provides, such as tables or crockery.
How our paella catering works in Alfold
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s what we bring to events in Alfold. Typical bookings include family celebrations and christenings and big birthdays, with seafood paella, vegan paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a rural place like Alfold, the setting does a lot of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
The process
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 normally draws people over. Evenings in Alfold stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
How to prepare
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
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.
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. The cost per head usually falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What you get with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Planning live paella in Alfold
Alfold is about 9 miles west of Horsham, in Surrey. Give us the address of your event in Alfold, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. Alfold is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 11 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Fir Tree Copse? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Wherever your event is in GU6, we can bring paella catering to you. Your event could be at a home on Chapel Field Close, Loxwood Road and Cypress Grove. Nearby, we also cater events in Alfold Bars (1 mile south), Loxwood (1 mile south), Ifold (2 miles south), Durfold Wood (3 miles west) and Plaistow (3 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Guildford (11 miles north), Woking (15 miles north), Farnham (14 miles north-west), Dorking (12 miles north-east), Haslemere (9 miles west) and Cranleigh (3 miles north-east).
Open spaces near Alfold include Shillinglee Lake.
- Nearby, you will find The Crown pub (under half a mile south-west)
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- How many guests are eating
- The length of service
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Details that help
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- The address or venue name
- Expected numbers
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Here’s how:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Who books paella catering in Alfold?
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before booking anyone
- Whether travel is included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Whether VAT is included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
Planning the cooking area
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly.
On the menu in Alfold
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
Towns and villages near Alfold
Other catering in Alfold
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
- 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