Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Little Bookham
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Little Bookham and across Surrey.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden get-togethers
- Birthday celebrations
Paella catering near Little Bookham
Questions from Little Bookham
We are having a ceremony at Church of St Lawrence: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
How far is Little Bookham from London?
About 20 miles from central London.
Which paellas suit our guests?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Can you serve drinks?
We can make sangria, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
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, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Are premium seafood options available?
We’ll suggest seafood to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Very much so. We plan the number of pans and serving points around your numbers.
Paella catering for your event in Little Bookham
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Little Bookham. We cook seafood paella, vegetable paella and vegan paella, and we are regularly asked to cater big birthdays and anniversary celebrations.
In a smaller place like Little Bookham, a garden party is frequently the simplest option: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
Nearby places to Little Bookham
Other catering in Little Bookham
Space, weather and the venue
Before the day, we will agree where we cook. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think.
Popular choices
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
Paella catering around Little Bookham
Little Bookham is about 3 miles south-west of Leatherhead, in Surrey. Anywhere in KT23, we will come to your venue or garden. Little Bookham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 8 miles away.
Historic houses near Little Bookham include Polesden Lacey (1.1 miles south-east) and Hatchlands Park (3.6 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Howard of Effingham School, can book us as a food stall. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Little Bookham. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
For paella catering in KT23 and KT24, we plan around your venue and your guests. Streets in the area include Orchard Gardens, Guildford Road and Lindens Close, and we can cook for an event on any of them. For events just outside Little Bookham, we cover Great Bookham (1 mile north-east), Fetcham (2 miles north-east), Ranmore Common (2 miles south-east), Westhumble (3 miles south-east) and Mickleham (3 miles east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Guildford (8 miles west), Woking (9 miles west), Camberley (15 miles west), Epsom (7 miles north-east), Horley (11 miles south-east) and Redhill (10 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Betchworth Castle (4.6 miles south-east) and Headley Court (5.1 miles east). Not far away are Combe Bottom and Boldermere Lake.
- Nearby schools include Manor House School (less than half a mile north) and St Lawrence Primary School (0.5 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Queen Stage pub (0.5 miles north-west)
What paella catering costs
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
- Travel, parking and access
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
What to tell us
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The date and time of the event
- The address or venue name
- Any dietary needs and allergies
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Working with your venue
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Confirm allergies by email
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid in a rich fish stock, finished with lemon wedges. It’s the pan people photograph.
Live paella or other catering?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, so everyone can eat at the same time. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why Little Bookham hosts choose us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
See How we price And The cost guide.
What happens on the day
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch while it cooks. Planning an evening event in Little Bookham? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- Contact us 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.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Little Bookham? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Events we cater in Little Bookham
People book live paella because it’s food and entertainment at once. The pans become a focal point, and the food is hot and generous.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Little Bookham:
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Garden get-togethers
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Bookham station, about 1.4 miles north.
Questions to ask before booking
- Who provides the crockery
- The wet-weather plan
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- VAT, if it applies
- 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