Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Hindhead, Surrey
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Hindhead and nearby, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Summer garden parties
- Company summer parties
Live paella catering in Hindhead
Paella catering in Hindhead, made fresh on the day
The cooking is half the fun. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. Whether it is weddings, from canapés to evening food and garden parties and summer barbecues, we will put together a menu of seafood paella, vegan paella and vegetable paella for your guests.
Somewhere like Hindhead, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated, and served as soon as it is ready.
Should I cook it myself?
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.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Is live paella right for your event?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. 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.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- A quote that spells everything out
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
Organising for someone else?
Venues often have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Hindhead? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Count adults and children separately
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, cooked until the rice is golden. It’s the pan people photograph.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Events we cater in Hindhead
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Here are some of the events we cook for in Hindhead and Surrey:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Birthday celebrations
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Luke, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
What your quote should include
- How late numbers can change
- Allergen information for each dish
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
What paella catering costs
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- How long we are needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The address or venue name
- The date and rough timings
Every quote is put together for your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Questions from Hindhead
We’re having a ceremony at Church of St Luke: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Hindhead close to London?
About 39 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
How long does the paella take?
That depends on your menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance so the paella is ready when you want it.
What space do you need to cook?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, because we use gas burners. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Big pans feed plenty of people, and service from the pan is quick.
Planning live paella in Hindhead
Hindhead is about 7 miles south of Farnham, in Surrey. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in Hindhead. We cover all 395 towns and villages across Surrey. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 12 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Haslemere station, about 1.9 miles south-east. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Edmund's School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about a mile of Hindhead, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Paella catering in GU26 is planned around your venue and timings. Streets in the area include Moorlands Close, Hatchlands Drive and Glenville Gardens, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Hindhead sits on or near the A333, so getting the burners and pans to your event is simple. Other places close to Hindhead for paella catering include Grayshott (1 mile west), Nutcombe (1 mile south), Beacon Hill (1 mile north-west), Whitmoor Vale (2 miles north-west) and Green Cross (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (12 miles north-east), Camberley (15 miles north), Farnham (7 miles north), Frimley (14 miles north), Cranleigh (11 miles east) and Ash (9 miles north).
Nearby you’ll also find Haslemere and District Hospital (2 miles south-east). Open spaces near Hindhead include Gibbet Hill and Lynchmere Commons.
- Nearby schools include Beacon Hill Community Primary School (0.9 miles north-west) and Woolmer Hill School (1.5 miles south)
- Pubs nearby include The Fox & Pelican pub (0.7 miles west)
How the day works
When we arrive, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so we time everything to your schedule. Around midsummer it stays light in Hindhead until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details 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.
- It’s served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
Get a quote
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Hindhead
Also in Hindhead
- 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