Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Shellwood Cross, Surrey
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Shellwood Cross. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Naming days and family parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Weddings and evening receptions
Paella catering for Shellwood Cross events
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Ask for labels on each pan
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
After service, we pack down our cooking area.
Add canapé tapas with the drinks or table tapas as a starter while the paella cooks.
Paella catering in Shellwood Cross, cooked live
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. Each is cooked separately, so diets are easy to manage. We cook mixed paella, vegetable paella and paella Valenciana, and we’re regularly asked to cater family celebrations and christenings and engagement and anniversary parties.
Somewhere as small as Shellwood Cross, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about 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.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
A vegetable paella isn’t an afterthought: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron.
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury, and is popular with adventurous guests.
Questions from Shellwood Cross
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Can you cook in Newdigate Brickworks?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
What seafood can we have?
We’ll talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
Can you cook in the rain?
We need a covered spot, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
How much does paella catering cost in Shellwood Cross?
Every event is quoted individually, based on what you actually want. Tell us your date and numbers for a clear quote.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Nearby places to Shellwood Cross
More for events in Shellwood Cross
Events we cater in Shellwood Cross
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks and then sit down to share.
These are some of the occasions we cater around Shellwood Cross:
- Naming days and family parties
- Community events and fairs
- Milestone birthday parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Parks such as Newdigate Brickworks normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before booking anyone
- When payment is due
- A clear list of what’s included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Any travel, parking or access charges
Planners, venues and businesses
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
Throwing a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- How many staff you need
- Guest numbers
- Distance and access to the venue
- Whether you need crockery
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we will quote.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- The date and time of the event
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The venue or postcode
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning live paella in Shellwood Cross
Shellwood Cross is about 3 miles south-east of Dorking, in Surrey. We bring paella catering to gardens, halls and venues around Shellwood Cross and the surrounding area. We cover all 395 towns and villages across Surrey. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 14 miles away.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Holmwood station, about 2.5 miles south-west. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Bartholomew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 5 miles of Shellwood Cross, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Wherever your event is in RH2, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Other places close to Shellwood Cross for paella catering include Parkgate (1 mile south), Nalderswood (1 mile east), Newdigate (2 miles south), Norwood Hill (2 miles south-east) and Cudworth (2 miles south). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (14 miles west), Woking (15 miles north-west), Epsom (10 miles north), Horley (5 miles east), Redhill (5 miles north-east) and Ewell (11 miles north).
A little further out are Reigate Priory Museum (3.8 miles north-east) and East Surrey Hospital (4.8 miles east). Open spaces near Shellwood Cross include Box Hill and Reigate Heath.
How the day works
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you can enjoy your event. If you’ve chosen tapas or canapés, they go out first as the rice is cooking. In Shellwood Cross, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We put together a menu and a clear quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
Before we arrive
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Shellwood Cross? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just send us your details through 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