Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Hookwood, Surrey
Looking for paella catering in Hookwood? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering near Hookwood
Paella catering in Hookwood, made fresh on the day
Paella was made for feeding a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s exactly what we bring to your event in Hookwood. We are frequently asked to cater big birthdays and garden get-togethers, with seafood paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like Hookwood, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
How the day works
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. In Hookwood, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The rice cooks in full view, while tapas or canapés go round.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Before we arrive
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Hookwood? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Organising for someone else?
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Catering an event in Hookwood
Hookwood is about 1 mile south-west of Horley, in Surrey. Events in Hookwood are planned around your venue and timings: a clear quote, agreed timings and paella cooked live on the day. Hookwood is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. Our events stretch from Hookwood to Guildford (18 miles away).
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Manorfield Primary and Nursery School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For guests coming by train, Horley station is about 1.2 miles away. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Hookwood, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cater events across RH6 and the streets around it. Local streets include Campbell Close, Mistley Gardens and Kennel Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. For events just outside Hookwood, we cover Horley (1 mile north-east), Fernhill (2 miles east), Tinsley Green (2 miles south-east), Langley Green (3 miles south) and Shipley Bridge (3 miles south-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (12 miles north), Redhill (5 miles north), Ewell (13 miles north), Reigate (5 miles north), Caterham (9 miles north-east) and Dorking (7 miles north-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Museum (3.5 miles south) and Langley Green Hospital (2.6 miles south).
- Nearby schools include Oakwood School (1.5 miles east)
- Local pubs include Black Horse pub (within half a mile north-west)
Places near Hookwood
Other catering in Hookwood
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- We cover Hookwood and the whole of Surrey
Questions from Hookwood
Which station should guests use for Hookwood?
Horley station, about 1.2 miles east of the centre.
How far is Hookwood from London?
About 23 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes. Canapés with drinks or tapas for the tables, served while the paella cooks.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
What if the weather’s bad?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is normally popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three covers most guests. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we’ll suggest the mix.
A closer look at the menu
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, as there is no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. We will send you a quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but these help:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The venue or postcode
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Confirm allergies by email
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Tell us what else is being served
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, have hot stock ready, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Space, weather and the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- 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