Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Fernhill, Surrey
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Fernhill and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Retirement celebrations
- Community events and fairs
- Engagement and anniversary parties
Live paella catering in Fernhill
Paella catering for your event in Fernhill
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. Once it’s ready, we serve it hot from the pan. On the menu are paella Valenciana, black rice and seafood paella, and we’re frequently booked for garden get-togethers and fairs, fêtes and festivals.
For a rural spot like Fernhill, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Let us know about access and ground conditions. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
About the dishes
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is frequently the most popular pan at an event.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Around midsummer it stays light in Fernhill until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get 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.
Planning help
What paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Your choice of paellas
- Travel, parking and access
- Guest numbers
- How many staff you need
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Fernhill, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Nearby places to Fernhill
Other catering in Fernhill
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Fernhill? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
FAQs for Fernhill
Is Fernhill too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Bartholomew: 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.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you do desserts?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you come to Fernhill?
We do. Fernhill is one of the places we cover. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, where your guests can watch.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
Fernhill: venues, travel and local tips
Fernhill is about 2 miles south-east of Horley, in Surrey. Anywhere in RH6, we can bring the pans to you. We cook in 395 places across Surrey. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 20 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Bartholomew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Gatwick Airport station, about 1 mile west.
We cover events in every part of the RH6 postcode area. Local streets include Peeks Brook Lane and Donkey Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Burstow (1 mile east), Shipley Bridge (1 mile south), Tinsley Green (1 mile south-west), Keeper's Corner (1 mile east) and Copthorne (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (14 miles north-west), Redhill (6 miles north), Ewell (15 miles north), Reigate (6 miles north-west), Caterham (9 miles north) and Dorking (10 miles north-west).
A little further out are County Mall (3.6 miles south-west) and Langley Green Hospital (2.9 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Hedgecourt Lake.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Shipley Bridge pub (0.5 miles south)
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we will ask about yours before we confirm. In general, we need:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Confirm allergies by email
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Tell us how many children are coming
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
Occasions we cook for in Fernhill
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
These are some of the occasions we cater in Fernhill and Surrey:
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Birthday celebrations
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Oakwood School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What your quote should include
- Allergen information for each dish
- The deadline for final numbers
- Space, access and power needs
- The wet-weather plan
- 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