Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Ranmore Common, Surrey
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ranmore Common. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
Paella catering for Ranmore Common events
About our paella catering in Ranmore Common
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s what we bring to events in Ranmore Common. On the menu are chicken and chorizo paella, black rice and seafood paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater retirement celebrations and garden parties and summer barbecues.
For a rural spot like Ranmore Common, the countryside is part of the appeal: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, each in a separate pan and clearly labelled.
Who books paella catering in Ranmore Common?
Outdoor events and live paella go together: cooked outside, served hot and shared.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Typical bookings include:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Big birthdays
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
Thinking of a picnic-style party in Milton Heath and The Nower? Public parks usually need permission from the council or landowner for cooking, so check first.
Before booking anyone
- Allergen information for each dish
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- How bad weather is handled
- Staff numbers and hours
Also near Ranmore Common
What else we do in Ranmore Common
How it works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests typically gather round to watch while it cooks. Planning an evening event in Ranmore Common? Sunset is around 8:50pm in late May, 9:20pm at midsummer and 7:05pm in late September; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
How to prepare
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
Getting a price
Not sure what you need yet? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
The menu, dish by dish
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Space, weather and the venue
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Ranmore Common
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
Why choose live paella in Ranmore Common?
Vans serve one order at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is frequently good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
What you get with us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Drinks service on request
- Catering across Surrey, including Ranmore Common
- Real theatre, not just catering
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
FAQs for Ranmore Common
Is Ranmore Common close to London?
About 21 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Is Ranmore Common too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes, always. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
What happens if it rains?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind in your enquiry.
Dietary needs and planning tips
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Tell us what else is being served
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Plan a meat, a seafood and a vegetable or vegan pan
After service, we pack down our cooking area, quietly and quickly.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Prices and what affects them
The price comes down to a few factors:
- Timings and hours
- Your choice of paellas
- How many staff you need
- How many guests are eating
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Your date and when you want to eat
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
Thinking about paella catering for your event in Ranmore Common? Send us the details and we will come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to 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 at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Planning live paella in Ranmore Common
Ranmore Common is about 2 miles north-west of Dorking, in Surrey. Wherever your event is in the RH5 area, we can bring the pans to you. Ranmore Common is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey we cover. Our events stretch from Ranmore Common to Guildford (9 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Barnabas, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Dorking West station, about 1.1 miles east. Ranmore Common is within about 3 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in RH5, we can bring paella catering to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Westcott (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north-east), Dorking (2 miles south-east), Pixham (2 miles east) and Wotton (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (9 miles west), Woking (10 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north-east), Horley (10 miles south-east), Redhill (8 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Betchworth Castle (3 miles east) and Mesolithic Museum (3.3 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include Box Hill and Combe Bottom.
- Local schools include The Priory CofE Voluntary Aided School (1.4 miles south-east)
- Parks and local facilities nearby include Pippbrook House (1.7 miles east)
- 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