Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Merstham, Surrey
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Merstham.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Garden get-togethers
Paella catering in Merstham
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, paella makes vegetarian, vegan and halal guests easier to cater for, because each paella has its own pan. It is served quickly from the pan, so queues move. Comparing caterers? Look at what each quote includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Fast service from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
Read How we price And Our guide to catering costs.
How our paella catering works in Merstham
The cooking is half the fun. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the aroma does the rest. Whether it’s big birthdays and festivals, fairs and school events, we can cook mixed paella, chicken and chorizo paella and black rice for your guests.
In a rural place like Merstham, the setting does a lot of the work: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
How it works
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Merstham until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, 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.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
Planning help
Planning for every diet
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Mention any other courses or food
- Send allergies to us in writing
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
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.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Dishes our guests love
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who don’t eat fish.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Also near Merstham
Other catering in Merstham
Who books paella catering in Merstham?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Merstham and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Company summer parties
- Retirement celebrations
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Nutfield Marshes? Public parks generally need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Comparing caterers
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- When final numbers are due
- How long the team stays
- How bad weather is handled
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Your choice of paellas
- How many guests are eating
- Distance and access to the venue
The cost per head generally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
What we need to know
You do not need every detail fixed to get a quote, but these help:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The courses you’d like
- Where the event is
It’s 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.
Merstham: venues, travel and local tips
Merstham is about 2 miles north of Redhill, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Merstham will be, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Merstham is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Merstham to London (about 16 miles away).
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Merstham Primary School, can book us as a food stall. For guests coming by train, Merstham station is about 0.5 miles away. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Merstham, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
For paella catering in RH1, we plan around your venue and timings. From London Road North, Shepherd's Hill and Church Hill or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Merstham, we cover South Merstham (1 mile south), Gatton (1 mile south-west), Holmethorpe (1 mile south), Hooley (2 miles north) and Netherne on-the-Hill (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (7 miles north-west), Horley (6 miles south), Ewell (7 miles north-west), Reigate (3 miles south-west), Walton-on-Thames (14 miles north-west) and Caterham (3 miles north-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Surrey Fire Museum (2.8 miles south-west) and Bletchingley Castle (2.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Colley Hill.
- Schools near Merstham include Merstham Park School (0.9 miles south) and East Surrey College (1.4 miles south-west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
If you’re organising for someone else, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Your questions about paella catering in Merstham
Is Merstham close to London?
Roughly 16 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Can you cook in Nutfield Marshes?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we will provide our paperwork.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Do you come to Merstham?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, including Merstham. For a quote, use our quote form.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
What if the weather’s bad?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We will make a plan B with you.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
- 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