Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Merle Common, Surrey
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Merle Common and Surrey, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Retirement and leaving parties
Live paella catering in Merle Common
Who books paella catering in Merle Common?
There’s no kitchen needed, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Community events and fairs
- Garden get-togethers
- Family celebrations and christenings
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Hurst Green station, about 1.4 miles north.
Comparing caterers
- Who provides the crockery
- Staff numbers and hours
- The deposit and payment dates
- The deadline for final numbers
Paella catering in Merle Common, cooked live
Live paella works almost anywhere with a level, ventilated spot: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Merle Common. We are often asked to cater naming days and family parties and anniversary celebrations, serving chicken and chorizo paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana.
In a hamlet or village like Merle Common, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
DIY paella versus live catering
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Prices and what affects them
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- How many staff you need
- The number of people
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How long we are needed on site
Access and travel can make a difference to the cost, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before booking.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- The date and rough timings
- A photo of the space, if you can
- The venue or postcode
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Merle Common, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
For planners, venues and organisers
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
Paella compared with other options
Compared with a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, because each paella has its own pan. Service from the pan keeps queues moving. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Merle Common hosts choose us
- Events in Merle Common and across Surrey
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Fast service from the pan
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. Your guests will smell it before they see it. In Merle Common, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- 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.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Merle Common? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Paella catering around Merle Common
Merle Common is about 6 miles south-east of Caterham, in Surrey. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Merle Common and nearby villages. We cook in 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for London, about 19 miles away.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Holland Junior School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Historic houses near Merle Common include Chartwell (3.3 miles north-east) and Titsey Place (3.6 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Anywhere in RH8, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We also cook at events in Crowhurst (1 mile south-west), Troy Town (2 miles south-east), Hurst Green (2 miles north-west), Pains-Hill (2 miles north) and Crowhurst Lane End (2 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Epsom (14 miles north-west), Horley (8 miles west), Redhill (8 miles west), Ewell (15 miles north-west), Reigate (9 miles west) and Caterham (6 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Tandridge Priory (2.1 miles north) and Haxted Watermill Museum (2.5 miles south). Green spaces nearby include Botley Hill and Bay Pond.
- Local schools include Oxted School (2.4 miles north)
Also near Merle Common
Other catering in Merle Common
Your questions about paella catering in Merle Common
What’s the nearest station to Merle Common for guests?
The closest is Hurst Green station, roughly 1.4 miles away.
Is Merle Common too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Can paella be the only main course?
It is a full meal on its own. Many hosts add tapas first or dessert after.
Can you bring crockery?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do you cook inside?
Only in a suitable, well-ventilated area with the venue’s permission. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Is the paella cooked on site?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, Surrey included. Find your area.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, while the rice is cooking.
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:
- Mention any other courses or food
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
What we need at the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
What we offer
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- 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