Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Ockley, Surrey
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Ockley and across Surrey.
- Anniversary celebrations
- Garden get-togethers
- Milestone birthday parties
Paella catering for Ockley events
Paella catering for your event in Ockley
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field in and around Ockley. We’re frequently asked to cater office lunches and staff parties and milestone birthday parties, with black rice, vegetable paella and mixed paella.
Somewhere as small as Ockley, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
Prices and what affects them
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many guests are eating
There is no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. Your quote spells it all out.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- A photo of the space, if you can
- Your date and when you want to eat
- What the venue already provides
- Where the event is
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, send us your details through our quote form.
Towns and villages near Ockley
What else we do in Ockley
Planning live paella in Ockley
Ockley is about 6 miles north of Horsham, in Surrey. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Ockley and nearby villages. We cook in 395 places across Surrey. Our events stretch from Ockley to Guildford (11 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Ockley station is about 1.2 miles away. Parks such as Wallis Wood usually need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Ockley, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in RH5, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. From Prideaux Gardens, Stane Street and Friday Street or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Ockley for paella catering include Paynes Green (1 mile south), Capel (2 miles east), Forest Green (2 miles north-west), Coldharbour (2 miles north) and Kingsfold (3 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Guildford (11 miles north-west), Woking (15 miles north-west), Epsom (14 miles north), Horley (9 miles east), Redhill (10 miles north-east) and Ewell (15 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Horsham Hospital (5.5 miles south) and Abinger Castle (4.3 miles north-west). The countryside around Ockley includes Warnham LNR and Leith Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The Cricketers Arms Public House (under half a mile south-west)
How the day works
Here’s how the day typically runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Around midsummer it stays light in Ockley until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we clear our area afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Name one person we can ask on the day
How to get a price
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.
Related guides
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
About the dishes
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Put allergy details in writing
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Ockley: your questions answered
Can you cook in Wallis Wood?
Only if the landowner, generally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Can you cater a reception after a service at St John's Church?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
Can paella be the only main course?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, on request. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Two or three is usual: a mixed or chicken paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. See the sample menu.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children frequently love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Why choose live paella in Ockley?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A paella pan serves many portions quickly, so everyone can eat at the same time. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Drinks service on request
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Fast service from the pan
- A quote that spells everything out
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
What we need at the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before booking.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan 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