Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Farncombe, Surrey
Something for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Farncombe.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Big birthdays
Live paella catering in Farncombe
How our paella catering works in Farncombe
Paella is generous food: giant pans, saffron colour and a toasted crust that everyone fights over. It makes the food an event in itself. Whether it’s big birthdays and community events and fairs, we can cook mixed paella, seafood paella and vegan paella.
Around Farncombe, events are often in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, never made in advance and reheated, and served the moment it’s ready.
What paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- How many courses
- Distance and access to the venue
- The number of people
- How many staff you need
Larger events typically cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Send us the date, your venue or GU7 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Live paella or other catering?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. 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 Farncombe
- Fast service from the pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
See How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
Towns and villages near Farncombe
More for events in Farncombe
Planning for every diet
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Where we can cook in Farncombe
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
Paella catering around Farncombe
Farncombe is about 4 miles south-west of Guildford, in Surrey. Give us the address of your event in Farncombe, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cater in 395 places across Surrey.
Nearby historic houses include Loseley Park (1.2 miles north) and Guildford Castle (2.9 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Farncombe Wood? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Farncombe is within about 7 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in GU7 is planned around your venue and timings. That could mean an event in a garden on Station Road, Old Station Road and Walnut Tree Gardens or the roads around them. Close by, we cover events in Godalming (1 mile south), Aaron's Hill (1 mile south-west), Busbridge (1 mile south), Upper Eashing (2 miles south-west) and Lower Eashing (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (4 miles north-east), Woking (8 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Farnham (8 miles west), Dorking (12 miles east) and Frimley (10 miles north-west).
Nearby you will also find Charterhouse School Museum (0.6 miles west) and Guildford Castle (2.9 miles north-east). Not far away are Frith Hill and Farncombe Wood.
- Local schools include Charterhouse School (0.6 miles west) and Broadwater School (0.7 miles north-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Freeholders pub (less than half a mile south-east)
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
Events we cater in Farncombe
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Farncombe:
- Company summer parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Christenings and family gatherings
For guests coming by train, Farncombe has its own station, Farncombe station.
Comparing caterers
- The deadline for final numbers
- How each diet is kept separate
- Travel and parking costs
- Space, access and power needs
Common questions in Farncombe
How far is Farncombe from London?
Roughly 30 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Which station should guests use for Farncombe?
Farncombe station, in Farncombe itself.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we’ll cook a separate pan.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
How much is live paella catering?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
What happens on the day
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Farncombe 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.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Getting a price
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Read more
- 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