Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Godalming, Surrey
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Godalming. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Birthday celebrations
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Family celebrations and christenings
Paella catering in Godalming
Paella compared with other options
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Godalming. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why Godalming hosts choose us
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Fast service from the pan
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
See Our pricing And What paella catering costs.
About our paella catering in Godalming
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there is very little waste, and the food arrives hot. That is why it works for so many events. Typical bookings include anniversary celebrations and family celebrations and christenings, with chicken and chorizo paella, vegetable paella and seafood paella.
There may be a hall or club near Godalming if your garden is small; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Working with your venue
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Step by step
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. Evenings in Godalming 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.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- 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
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. 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.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it is in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Godalming questions
Which station should guests use for Godalming?
Godalming has its own station: Godalming station.
Is Godalming close to London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Include children in your numbers.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
What equipment do you bring?
We bring all the cooking equipment. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Do you provide drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Nearby places to Godalming
More for events in Godalming
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Distance and access to the venue
- How long we’re needed on site
- Guest numbers
- Whether you need crockery
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What to tell us
To check availability and price, we need:
- The courses you’d like
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the space, if you can
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
What we need at the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you. What matters most:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Menu ideas
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Put allergy details in writing
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Paella catering around Godalming
Godalming is about 5 miles south of Guildford, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Godalming will be, and we will plan access and set-up. Godalming is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like St Edmund Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, Godalming station is in Godalming itself. Godalming is within about 7 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over GU7 and GU8. Local streets include High Street, Station Road and Market Mews; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. Godalming is on the A3100 and B2130, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Close by, we cover events in Aaron's Hill (1 mile west), Busbridge (1 mile south-east), Farncombe (1 mile north), Tuesley (1 mile south) and Upper Eashing (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (5 miles north), Woking (9 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Farnham (8 miles west), Dorking (13 miles east) and Frimley (10 miles north-west).
A little further out are Guildford Castle (3.9 miles north-east) and Godalming Museum (within half a mile north). Not far away are Frith Hill and Farncombe Wood.
- Nearby schools include St Hilary's School (within half a mile south-west) and Godalming College (0.5 miles south)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Richmond Arms Public House (within half a mile west)
- 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