Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Peaslake
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Peaslake: paella made from scratch in big, shallow pans, right in front of your guests.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Company summer parties
Paella catering near Peaslake
Common questions in Peaslake
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Mark?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking generally happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Is Peaslake too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Do you provide plates and cutlery?
We can. Tell us what your venue provides and we’ll include the rest in the quote.
Can you serve drinks?
Sangria can be added, and we can staff a bar with your drinks.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
Can you feed a lot of people?
Yes, that is what it’s made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
How our paella catering works in Peaslake
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, very little goes to waste, and the food arrives hot. It is why live paella suits so many kinds of event. We cook black rice, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for garden parties and summer barbecues and staff parties and work lunches.
In a rural place like Peaslake, the setting does plenty of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Tell us about access and the ground. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
Planners, venues and businesses
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Paella is at its best straight from the pan, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Planning the cooking area
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so we need a suitable spot. Here’s what we look for:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we’ll say what we think before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
Occasions we cook for in Peaslake
Outdoor events and live paella go together: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Whatever you are celebrating in Peaslake, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Summer garden parties
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversary celebrations
Nearby historic houses include Chilworth Manor (4.2 miles north-west) and Hatchlands Park (4.6 miles north). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before you book anyone
- Payment terms and deposit
- How late numbers can change
- Travel and parking costs
- Allergen information for each dish
Paella catering around Peaslake
Peaslake is about 6 miles south-west of Dorking, in Surrey. From the centre of Peaslake to the outskirts, paella catering works the same way: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in all 395 towns and villages in Surrey. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 7 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Mark, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Peaslake Free School, can book us as a food stall. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 3 miles of Peaslake. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of the GU5 postcode area and the streets around it. Streets in the area include Pond Lane, Peaslake Lane and Walking Bottom, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Holmbury St Mary (1 mile east), Farley Green (2 miles west), Pitland Street (2 miles east), Ewhurst (3 miles south) and Ewhurst Green (3 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (7 miles north-west), Woking (10 miles north-west), Epsom (12 miles north-east), Horley (12 miles east), Redhill (12 miles east) and Farnham (15 miles west).
Nearby you will also find Abinger Castle (1.8 miles east) and St. Luke’s Hospital (5.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Combe Bottom and Leith Hill.
- Schools near Peaslake include Hurtwood House (1.5 miles south-east)
Paella compared with other options
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Events in Peaslake and across Surrey
Should I cook it myself?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. 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.
Other catering in Peaslake
What affects the price in Peaslake
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Parking and unloading
- Guest numbers
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
What to tell us
You do not need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and time of the event
- Which courses you have in mind
- Where the event is
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
Not sure what you need yet? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: send us your details through our quote form.
How the day works
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. Around midsummer it stays light in Peaslake until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Getting ready for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Have a level space ready for the pans
How to get a price
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Peaslake? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To contact us, fill in our quote form.
Read more
- 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