Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Elstead, Surrey
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Elstead.
- Garden get-togethers
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering near Elstead
About our paella catering in Elstead
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. On the menu are mixed paella, black rice and seafood paella, and typical bookings are for leaving dos and retirements and festivals, fairs and school events.
There may be a hall or club near Elstead if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Elstead: venues, travel and local tips
Elstead is about 4 miles south-east of Farnham, in Surrey. For paella catering in Elstead, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Elstead. Elstead is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 7 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St James, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Milford (Surrey) station is about 3.1 miles away. Elstead is within about 5 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.
Here we cover the GU8 postcode area. Local streets include Springfield, Orchard Close and Back Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Charleshill (1 mile north-west), Tilford (2 miles west), Tilford Common (2 miles west), Thursley (2 miles south) and Rushmoor (3 miles south-west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Guildford (7 miles north-east), Woking (11 miles north-east), Camberley (10 miles north), Farnham (4 miles north-west), Frimley (9 miles north) and Haslemere (7 miles south).
Well-known places in the area include Milford Hospital (3.4 miles east) and Seale and Tongham (2.7 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Culverswell Hill and Upper Lake.
- Pubs nearby include The Woolpack pub (within half a mile north-west)
Perfect for your event in Elstead
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
We can help if you’re planning any of the following:
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Company summer parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Parks such as Thundry Meadows usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Comparing caterers
- Payment terms and deposit
- Space, access and power needs
- If the price includes VAT
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
Also near Elstead
What else we do in Elstead
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why choose Love Paella in Elstead
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, which is when we normally call guests over.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Organising a club, school or community event in Elstead? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
What affects the price in Elstead
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
- Waiting and bar staff
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Before you choose a spot
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Step by step
Expect a friendly, organised team. Arrival and serving times are agreed beforehand, set up the pans and burners, and get on with cooking and serving. Planning an evening event in Elstead? Sunset is around 8:55pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Still deciding on the menu? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Elstead
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Which station should guests use for Elstead?
Milford (Surrey) station, about 3.1 miles south-east of the centre.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We will agree arrival, cooking and serving times with you so the paella is ready when you want it.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Tell us what your venue provides and we will include the rest in the quote.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How much does paella catering cost in Elstead?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
- 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