Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Ashtead, Surrey
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Ashtead and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Christenings and family gatherings
Planning an event in Ashtead?
Occasions we cook for in Ashtead
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Naming days and family parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Summer garden parties
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St George's Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What to look for in a quote
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Payment terms and deposit
- How late numbers can change
- Travel and parking costs
Paella catering in Ashtead, cooked live
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and festival fields in and around Ashtead. We’re often asked to cater retirement celebrations and anniversary celebrations, with mixed paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana.
There are lots of options in a town like Ashtead: your own garden, a club or hall with outside space, or a venue nearby. We will agree the cooking spot beforehand. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella is not an afterthought: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Why choose live paella in Ashtead?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Live paella pricing depends on the event. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Put allergy details in writing
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Mention any other courses or food
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we will do the cooking.
Your questions about paella catering in Ashtead
Can you cook in Ashtead Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, generally the council. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Which station should guests use for Ashtead?
Ashtead station, about 0.6 miles north of the centre.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Do you cover Ashtead?
We do. We cook at events in Ashtead and across Surrey. Tell us your date and we’ll check availability.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and it’s cooked separately.
Do you take everything away?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Do you bring everything you need?
Pans, burners and ingredients all come with us. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can you cook in the rain?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Catering an event in Ashtead
Ashtead is about 2 miles south-west of Epsom, in Surrey. For an event in Ashtead, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. We cook in all 395 towns and villages across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 12 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Parsons Mead School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Ashtead station, about 0.6 miles north. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Ashtead, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cater events across KT21 and KT22. Whether your event is on The Street, Church Road and Greville Park Road or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Pachesham Park (2 miles north-west), Malden Rushett (2 miles north), Oxshott (3 miles north-west), Barwell (3 miles north) and Stoke D'Abernon (4 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (12 miles west), Woking (12 miles west), Horley (11 miles south-east), Redhill (8 miles south-east), Ewell (4 miles north-east) and Egham (13 miles north-west).
A little further out are Headley Court (1.7 miles south-east) and Walton on the Hill (3.1 miles south-east). Open spaces near Ashtead include Box Hill and The Lake.
- Nearby schools include Barnett Wood Infant School (within half a mile north-west) and St Andrew's Catholic School (0.7 miles south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Leg Of Mutton And Cauliflower Public House (under half a mile east)
How the day works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. In Ashtead, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What paella catering costs
We will give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- What the venue already provides
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Other catering in Ashtead
- 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