Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Bunce Common, Surrey
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Bunce Common and the surrounding area.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
Planning an event in Bunce Common?
Paella catering in Bunce Common, made fresh on the day
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. Once it is ready, we serve it hot from the pan. We are often asked to cater milestone birthday parties and christenings and family gatherings, with chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and seafood paella.
For a rural spot like Bunce Common, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated.
Questions from Bunce Common
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Bartholomew: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking normally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Bunce Common too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a picture if you are not sure.
How many paellas should we have?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
How much is live paella catering?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we will reply with a price.
How do you work out quantities?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
When should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Bunce Common: venues, travel and local tips
Bunce Common is about 3 miles south-east of Dorking, in Surrey. Whether your event is in the middle of Bunce Common or on the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Bunce Common is one of 395 places in Surrey we cover. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 13 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Bartholomew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Betchworth station is about 2.7 miles away. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Bunce Common, 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.
Anywhere in RH2 and RH3, we can cook for your guests. Whether your event is on Gadbrook Road, Leigh Road and Shellwood Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. If your venue is just outside Bunce Common, we also cover Dawesgreen (1 mile east), Strood Green (1 mile north), Leigh (1 mile east), Brockham (2 miles north) and Betchworth (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (13 miles west), Woking (15 miles north-west), Epsom (9 miles north), Horley (5 miles south-east), Redhill (5 miles north-east) and Ewell (10 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include East Surrey Hospital (4.9 miles east) and Reigate Priory Museum (3.5 miles north-east). Not far away are Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Seven Stars Public House (0.8 miles east)
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many courses
- How many guests are eating
- How long we’re needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Expected numbers
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Also near Bunce Common
More for events in Bunce Common
Why choose live paella in Bunce Common?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Drinks service on request
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Confirm allergies by email
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter as the rice cooks.
Who books paella catering in Bunce Common?
There’s no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Community events and fairs
- Summer garden parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Parks such as Inholms Clay Pit typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
What to look for in a quote
- The wet-weather plan
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether VAT is included
- The deadline for final numbers
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
How the day works
It’s a relaxed, well-organised set-up. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up our cooking area, and get on with cooking and serving. In Bunce Common, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Related guides
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Dishes our guests love
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
- 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