Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Esher
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Esher and Surrey, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella catering for Esher events
How the day works
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it is served at its best. Evenings in Esher stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Ensure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
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Paella catering in Esher, made fresh on the day
Paella is generous food: huge pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. We cook vegetable paella, mixed paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and we’re frequently booked for leaving dos and retirements and family celebrations and christenings.
In and around Esher, gardens and local halls are common choices. If access is tight, we’ll plan around it. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
Planning for every diet
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Put allergy details in writing
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Give us separate numbers for children
A short rest after cooking helps, and that is when we invite guests up.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Towns and villages near Esher
More for events in Esher
Esher questions
How far is Esher from London?
Roughly 15 miles from the centre of London.
We are having a ceremony at St George's Church: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you provide drinks?
Sangria, yes. For other drinks, we can provide bar staff to serve what you buy.
Is paella a full meal?
Yes. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main, and tapas or dessert can be added.
What happens if it rains?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
How does live paella catering work?
We set up a cooking area at your venue, cook the paella from scratch in large pans while your guests watch, and serve it straight from the pan.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans, and it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is typically served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Planners, venues and businesses
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Esher? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
On the menu in Esher
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
Who books paella catering in Esher?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it’s cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Whatever the occasion, paella can be the star of the food. We frequently cook for:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Company summer parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Nearby historic houses include The Homewood (1.8 miles south-west) and Hampton Court Palace (2.6 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
What your quote should include
- How bad weather is handled
- When payment is due
- Travel and parking costs
- If the price includes VAT
Planning live paella in Esher
Esher is about 5 miles north-west of Epsom, in Surrey. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Esher and nearby villages. We cook in all 395 towns and villages in Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Esher to Guildford (about 12 miles away).
Parks such as Claremont Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Milbourne Lodge School, can book us as a food stall.
Paella catering in KT10, KT7 and KT8 is planned around your venue and your guests. Whether your event is on High Street, Station Road and Warren Close or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. You will find Esher on the A244 and A307, so it is easy for us to reach with the van and pans. For events just outside Esher, we cover West End (1 mile south-west), Lower Green (1 mile north), Hinchley Wood (1 mile east), Claygate (1 mile south-east) and Weston Green (1 mile north-east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (12 miles south-west), Woking (10 miles west), Epsom (5 miles south-east), Redhill (12 miles south-east), Ewell (5 miles east) and Egham (9 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Elmbridge Museum (less than half a mile east) and Bentall Centre (3.9 miles north-east). Open spaces near Esher include Jubilee Wood and The Lake.
- Nearby schools include Esher Church School (less than half a mile south) and Esher Church of England High School (0.5 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include Albert Arms (within half a mile west)
- Local facilities include Municipal Borough of Surbiton (2.9 miles east)
Why choose live paella in Esher?
Vans serve one order at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
DIY paella versus live catering
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.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
- 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