Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Compton, Surrey
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in Compton.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Birthday celebrations
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella catering in Compton
Paella catering in Compton, made fresh on the day
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include office lunches and staff parties and community events and fairs, with chicken and chorizo paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana.
In a small place like Compton, events are typically in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose.
Step by step
On the day, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so the timing is planned around your event. Evenings in Compton 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.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Ask for a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- Where the event is
- The courses you’d like
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Tell us what else is being served
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We arrive in good time, set up, cook and serve, and keep in touch with you or your venue about timings.
Sangria and bar staff can be added to serve drinks you provide.
Why choose live paella in Compton?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Compton
- Catering across Surrey, including Compton
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Sangria and bar staff available
- No hidden extras in your quote
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
Compton: your questions answered
Do you cater in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will follow the site rules.
Is Compton close to London?
About 30 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it’s worth asking.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Do you come to Compton?
We do. Compton is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Clearing guests’ plates and tables can be added with waiting staff.
Should I cook it myself?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Who books paella catering in Compton?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. In Compton, people book us for events such as:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Retirement and leaving parties
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Nicholas, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- VAT, if it applies
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Compton: venues, travel and local tips
Compton is about 3 miles south-west of Guildford, in Surrey. Wherever your event is in the GU3 area, we can cook for your guests. Compton is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover.
Nearby historic houses include Loseley Park (1 mile east) and Wanborough Manor (1.9 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Loseley Fields Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Compton, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
For paella catering in GU3, we plan around your venue and timings. Local streets include The Street, Spiceall and Almsgate; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Nearby, we also cater events in Hurtmore (1 mile south), Binscombe (1 mile south-east), Littleton (1 mile east), Shackleford (2 miles south-west) and Onslow Village (2 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (3 miles north-east), Woking (7 miles north), Camberley (9 miles north-west), Farnham (7 miles west), Egham (15 miles north) and Walton-on-Thames (15 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include Charterhouse School Museum (1.2 miles south) and Guildford Castle (2.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Compton include Farncombe Wood and Frith Hill.
- Local schools include Prior's Field School (1 mile west) and Broadwater School (1.8 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Harrow pub (under half a mile west)
Towns and villages near Compton
What else we do in Compton
- 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