Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Cranleigh
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Cranleigh. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Company summer parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Book paella catering in Cranleigh
How we price paella catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Guest numbers
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Travel, parking and access
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- Where the event is
- The date and rough timings
- What the venue already provides
- A picture of where we’d cook
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, along with any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, use our quote form.
Paella catering for your event in Cranleigh
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. We are often asked to cater weddings, from canapés to evening food and community events and fairs, with vegan paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana.
In and around Cranleigh, gardens and local halls are common choices. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated.
Why choose live paella in Cranleigh?
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and generally costs more per head. Live paella needs only a level, ventilated spot and permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Larger events normally cost less per head, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Why Cranleigh hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Catering across Surrey, including Cranleigh
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, 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.
A closer look at the menu
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell generally draws people over. Planning an evening event in Cranleigh? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
How to prepare
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Get a quote
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Cranleigh? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Nearby places to Cranleigh
Other catering in Cranleigh
For planners, venues and organisers
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Cranleigh: venues, travel and local tips
Cranleigh is about 8 miles south-east of Guildford, in Surrey. Whether your event is in the middle of Cranleigh or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Cranleigh is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 8 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Cuthbert Mayne Catholic Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Nicholas, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Cranleigh, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over the GU6 postcode area and the streets around it. From High Street, Taverner Square and Bridge Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Main roads around Cranleigh include the B2128, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. For events just outside Cranleigh, we cover Ewhurst (2 miles east), Ewhurst Green (2 miles east), Mayes Green (4 miles east), Walliswood (4 miles east) and Ellen's Green (4 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (8 miles north-west), Woking (13 miles north), Horley (14 miles east), Redhill (15 miles north-east), Farnham (14 miles west) and Reigate (14 miles north-east).
- Nearby schools include Glebelands School (under half a mile north-west)
Who books paella catering in Cranleigh?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Whatever you are celebrating in Cranleigh, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Birthday celebrations
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Sayer's Croft LNR? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Before booking anyone
- If the price includes VAT
- How each diet is kept separate
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
Planning the cooking area
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Your questions about paella catering in Cranleigh
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Nicholas?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Cranleigh from London?
About 30 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables are available.
How much paella per person?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
- 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