Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Shere
We cook live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event across Shere and Surrey, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Naming days and family parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Community events and fairs
Live paella catering in Shere
Paella catering in Shere, cooked live
You can keep it simple or build a full menu: paella on its own, or with canapés, table tapas, desserts and sangria. We will suggest what suits your event. Typical bookings include family celebrations and christenings and anniversaries and engagement parties, with paella Valenciana, seafood paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Somewhere as small as Shere, a garden or field is often the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we will plan for them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Live paella in Shere: local details
Shere is about 5 miles east of Guildford, in Surrey. For an event in Shere, we cater in back gardens, halls with outdoor space, barns, marquees and offices in and around Shere. We cook in all 395 towns and villages across Surrey.
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Shere CofE Aided Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Church of St James, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Shere is within about a mile of the Surrey Hills National Landscape. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Here we cover the GU5 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. We can cater an event on streets such as Lower Street, Orchard Road and Shere Lane or the roads around them. We also cook at events in Gomshall (1 mile east), Albury Heath (1 mile south-west), Little London (1 mile south-west), Albury (1 mile west) and Abinger Hammer (1 mile east). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (5 miles west), Woking (8 miles north-west), Camberley (14 miles north-west), Epsom (12 miles north-east), Horley (13 miles east) and Redhill (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Shere Museum (within half a mile east) and Abinger Castle (2.8 miles south-east). Open spaces near Shere include Silent Pool and St Martha's Hill.
- Pubs nearby include The White Horse Public House (within half a mile south-east)
Planning for every diet
Dietary needs are easy to plan for with a little notice. We suggest:
- Count adults and children separately
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Confirm allergies by email
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If timings shift, we adapt.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further and suit guests who aren’t big rice eaters.
How we price paella catering
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- Travel, parking and access
- The paellas you choose
- Timings and hours
Got a budget? Let us know, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The date and time of the event
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can fill in our quote form.
Nearby places to Shere
What else we do in Shere
How the day works
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Around midsummer it stays light in Shere until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive in good time to set up.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Choose a level spot for the cooking area
Ask for a quote
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Planning help
Occasions we cook for in Shere
Live paella is made for outdoor events: it is cooked in the open, served hot and eaten together.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Shere book us for occasions like:
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Community events and fairs
Historic houses near Shere include Hatchlands Park (2.6 miles north) and Chilworth Manor (2.8 miles west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
What to look for in a quote
- If the price includes VAT
- The deposit and payment dates
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Allergen information for each dish
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is generally served with alioli. It is a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Shere questions
Do you come out to small places like Shere?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
What’s the nearest station to Shere for guests?
The closest is Gomshall station, roughly 1.1 miles away.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
What happens with live paella?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you are ready to eat.
How many different paellas?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
What space do you need to cook?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Crockery, cutlery and napkins, or good-quality disposables are available.
Do you cater in Shere?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Shere and across Surrey. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We need:
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
Why choose live paella in Shere?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
What you get with us
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Drinks service on request
- Catering across Surrey, including Shere
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at Our prices page Or What paella catering costs.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
- 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