Surrey · England
Paella Catering for Chaldon events
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Chaldon.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Leaving dos and retirements
Paella catering near Chaldon
Why choose live paella in Chaldon?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Chaldon hosts choose us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
How our paella catering works in Chaldon
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include retirement celebrations and wedding breakfasts and evening food, with vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice.
Somewhere like Chaldon, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Diets, allergies and planning
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Confirm allergies by email
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Step by step
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Planning an evening event in Chaldon? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can fill in our quote form.
Planning help
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Other catering in Chaldon
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
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.
Chaldon: venues, travel and local tips
Chaldon is about 1 mile south-west of Caterham, in Surrey. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Chaldon and nearby villages. We cater in 395 places across Surrey. You can also see our page for London, about 15 miles away.
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Kitchen Copse? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Peter and St Paul, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
We cover events in every part of CR3 and the streets around it. Local streets include Mount Avenue, Linden Drive and Marshall Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Being close to the B2031, Chaldon is easy for us to reach with everything for your event. Nearby, we also cater events in Netherne on-the-Hill (2 miles north-west), Merstham (2 miles west), Brewer Street (2 miles south), South Merstham (2 miles south-west) and Hooley (2 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Epsom (8 miles north-west), Horley (7 miles south), Redhill (4 miles south-west), Ewell (8 miles north-west), Reigate (5 miles south-west) and Walton-on-Thames (15 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Bletchingley Castle (2.8 miles south) and St Lawrence's Hospital (0.5 miles north-east). The countryside around Chaldon includes South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Nore Hill.
- Nearby schools include Oakhyrst Grange School (0.7 miles south-east) and de Stafford School (1.3 miles north-east)
- Nearby, you’ll find The King And Queen Public House (0.9 miles north-east)
The menu, dish by dish
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, and a popular all-rounder.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
FAQs for Chaldon
Is Chaldon too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Chaldon close to London?
About 15 miles from central London.
Can we choose the seafood?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana.
What does paella catering cost?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
When do you arrive?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Why choose paella catering in Chaldon?
Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It gives people something to gather round, too.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Summer garden parties
For guests coming by train, Caterham station is about 1.2 miles away.
Questions to ask before you book
- If the price includes VAT
- Who provides the crockery
- How bad weather is handled
- How each diet is kept separate
Where we can cook in Chaldon
Every venue is different, so we’ll ask about yours when you get in touch. Generally, we look for:
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- 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