Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Farnham, Surrey
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Farnham: paella cooked from scratch in giant pans, in full view of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Big birthdays
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Paella catering in Farnham
Paella catering in Farnham, cooked live
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Farnham. We cook black rice, paella Valenciana and mixed paella, and we’re frequently booked for company summer parties and festivals, fairs and school events.
There are lots of options in a town like Farnham: your own garden, a club or hall with outside space, or a venue nearby. We’ll agree the cooking spot beforehand. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, not reheated, and served as soon as it’s ready.
Catering an event in Farnham
Farnham is about 6 miles south of Farnborough, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Farnham will be, and we’ll plan access and set-up before the day. We cook in all 395 towns and villages across Surrey. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 10 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Farnham College, can book us as a food stall. Thinking of a picnic-style party in Moor Park? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first. Farnham is within about 8 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of the GU9 and GU10 postcode area and the streets around it. Whether your event is on Barncroft, Approach Road and Saxon Croft or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. With the A31 and A287 close by, Farnham is simple for us to get to for your event. For events just outside Farnham, we cover Compton (1 mile east), Hale (1 mile north), Upper Hale (2 miles north), Runfold (2 miles east) and Heath End (2 miles north). Larger places within reach include Guildford (10 miles east), Woking (12 miles north-east), Camberley (9 miles north), Frimley (8 miles north), Haslemere (9 miles south) and Cranleigh (14 miles east). Farnham is one of the larger places we cover in Surrey, with plenty of venues for events.
Well-known places in the area include Museum of Farnham (within half a mile north-west) and Farnham Castle (0.6 miles north-west). The countryside around Farnham includes Farnham Park and Aunt's Pool.
- Nearby schools include St Polycarp's Catholic Primary School (under half a mile east) and Weydon School (1 mile south-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find William Cobbett Public House (within half a mile north-west)
How it works
Serving is fast: we serve straight from the pan, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Around midsummer it stays light in Farnham until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Contact us with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
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For event organisers in Farnham
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Farnham questions
How far is Farnham from London?
About 36 miles from central London.
Which station should guests use for Farnham?
Farnham station, in Farnham itself.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Let us know numbers and ages, and we’ll plan for them.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
What happens with live paella?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will make a plan B with you.
What seafood can we have?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium options are available.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. We suggest:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us what else is being served
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Farnham
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
See Our prices page Or The cost guide.
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. 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. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Perfect for your event in Farnham
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks and then sit down to share.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Summer garden parties
- Community events and fairs
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Birthday celebrations
For guests coming by train, Farnham has its own station, Farnham station.
Before booking anyone
- The venue requirements
- Whether VAT is included
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Travel and parking costs
Nearby places to Farnham
Other catering in Farnham
- 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