Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Buckland, Surrey
Looking for paella catering in Buckland? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering for Buckland events
What we need at the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
About our paella catering in Buckland
Paella is generous food: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It turns a meal into an occasion. Whether it’s weddings and evening receptions and staff parties and work lunches, we can cook black rice, paella Valenciana and seafood paella.
Somewhere like Buckland, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We serve straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
Catering for every guest
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Mention any other courses or food
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Buckland: venues, travel and local tips
Buckland is about 2 miles west of Reigate, in Surrey. For an event in Buckland, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Buckland is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Buckland to Guildford (about 14 miles away).
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Brockham Limeworks? Public parks normally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mary the Virgin, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Buckland, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
This part of Surrey takes in RH3, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Local streets include Old Road, Sandy Lane and Rectory Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Betchworth (1 mile west), Brockham (1 mile west), Box Hill (1 mile north-west), Strood Green (2 miles south-west) and Mogador (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (14 miles west), Woking (15 miles west), Epsom (7 miles north), Horley (6 miles south-east), Redhill (4 miles east) and Ewell (8 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Headley Court (3.6 miles north) and Reigate Priory Museum (2.2 miles east). The countryside around Buckland includes Colley Hill and Reigate Heath.
- Local pubs include The Red Lion pub (less than half a mile west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Buckland? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Many venues have rules for 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.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell generally draws people over. In Buckland, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Plan cover in case of rain
How to get a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
How we price paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- Distance and access to the venue
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Buckland. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Buckland
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Questions from Buckland
Is Buckland 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.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mary the Virgin?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes, children are easy to cater for. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan a pan with them in mind.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Buckland.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and provide bar staff to serve drinks you supply.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Towns and villages near Buckland
Other catering in Buckland
- 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