Surrey · England
Paella Catering for Merrow events
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Merrow and Surrey, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Birthday celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
Book paella catering in Merrow
Occasions we cook for in Merrow
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Merrow:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
Nearby historic houses include Clandon Park (0.9 miles east) and Chilworth Manor (1.8 miles south). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Before you book anyone
- The deposit and payment dates
- Whether travel is included
- What the price includes, item by item
- If the price includes VAT
Paella catering in Merrow, made fresh on the day
We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook the paella in front of your guests. When it is ready, it is served straight from the pan. Typical bookings include birthday celebrations and staff parties and work lunches, serving vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice.
In a smaller place like Merrow, a garden party is often the simplest option: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Let us know about access to the house. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
Merrow: venues, travel and local tips
Merrow is about 2 miles east of Guildford, in Surrey. For an event in Merrow, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Merrow. We cook in all 395 towns and villages in Surrey.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St John the Evangelist, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Clandon station, about 1.6 miles north-east. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Merrow, 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.
For paella catering in GU1 and GU4, we plan around your venue. Whether your event is on Park Lane, Grove Road and Wykeham Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Other places close to Merrow for paella catering include Burpham (1 mile north-west), Abbotswood (1 mile west), West Clandon (2 miles north-east), Guildford (2 miles west) and Chilworth (2 miles south). Larger places within reach include Woking (5 miles north), Camberley (11 miles north-west), Epsom (13 miles north-east), Farnham (12 miles west), Ewell (14 miles north-east) and Egham (13 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Guildford Castle (2.1 miles south-west) and Surrey Infantry Museum (0.6 miles north-east). The countryside around Merrow includes St Martha's Hill and Colyer's Hanger and Silent Pool.
- Nearby schools include St Peter's Catholic School (under half a mile west) and St Peter's Catholic School (within half a mile west)
- Local pubs include The Horse And Groom Public House (less than half a mile south)
How we price paella catering
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Parking and unloading
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Whether you need crockery
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What we need to know
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The address or venue name
- The date and rough timings
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
How the day works
We get there well before serving, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Your guests are welcome to watch while it cooks. In Merrow, 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. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- We come back with paellas to suit your guests, plus any extras.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Getting a price
Send us the date, your venue or GU1 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Read more
For event organisers in Merrow
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can hold the date.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. Our advice:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Mention any other courses or food
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Have seats for most of your guests
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we serve when guests are ready.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Paella compared with other options
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we’ll suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Fast service from the pan
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Events in Merrow and across Surrey
Take a look at Our pricing And The cost guide.
Also near Merrow
Also in Merrow
Questions from Merrow
Can you cook in Riverside Park?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
What’s the nearest station to Merrow for guests?
The closest is Clandon station, roughly 1.6 miles away.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Even if it is short notice, it is worth asking.
Which paellas suit our guests?
That depends on who’s coming. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
How much does paella catering cost in Merrow?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers and we will reply with a price.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
DIY paella versus live catering
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 be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Space, weather and the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo 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