Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Downside, Surrey
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Downside and the surrounding area.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Big birthdays
- Naming days and family parties
Paella catering near Downside
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Paella catering in Downside, cooked live
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. On the menu are paella Valenciana, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice, and we’re frequently booked for big birthdays and weddings and evening receptions.
In a small place like Downside, events are normally 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. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Before you choose a spot
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
What we offer
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
Places near Downside
More for events in Downside
Your questions about paella catering in Downside
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 work to whatever the site needs.
Is Downside 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.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Is paella a full meal?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Make sure each pan is labelled
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is usually served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
How the day works
Expect a friendly, organised team. We agree arrival and serving times in advance, set up the pans and burners, and cook and serve without fuss. Evenings in Downside stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote.
Read more
Is live paella right for your event?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Downside. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why book with us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Events in Downside and across Surrey
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Why choose paella catering in Downside?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Downside book us for events such as:
- Milestone birthday parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Anniversary celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Byfleet Manor (2.7 miles north-west) and The Homewood (2.8 miles north). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Questions to ask before you book
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether VAT is included
- Allergen information for each dish
Planning live paella in Downside
Downside is about 4 miles west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. Anywhere in KT11, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Downside to Guildford (8 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Michael's Chapel, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as St Matthew's CofE Aided Infant School, can book us as a food stall. Downside is within about 6 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in KT11 is planned around your venue and your guests. Local streets include Downside Common, Downsview Close and Deacon Close; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Hatchford (1 mile west), Martyr's Green (1 mile south-west), Hatchford End (2 miles west), Whiteley Village (3 miles north) and Wisley (3 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (8 miles south-west), Woking (7 miles west), Camberley (14 miles west), Epsom (6 miles east), Horley (14 miles south-east) and Redhill (12 miles south-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Epsom Cottage Hospital (5.1 miles north-east) and Send and Ripley History Society Museum (3.8 miles west). The countryside around Downside includes Jubilee Wood and Boldermere Lake.
- Schools near Downside include Parkside School (1.2 miles east)
- Local pubs include The Plough Public House (0.7 miles north)
- 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