Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Staines-upon-Thames.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
Book paella catering in Staines-upon-Thames
Live paella in Staines-upon-Thames: local details
Staines-upon-Thames is about 7 miles south-west of Hayes, in Surrey. From the centre of Staines-upon-Thames to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cater in 395 places across Surrey. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 13 miles away.
Historic houses near Staines-upon-Thames include Botleys Mansion (4 miles south) and Frogmore House (4.9 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Riverbridge Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
This part of Surrey takes in TW18, TW20 and TW19, so your event can be anywhere in it. Your event could be at a home on High Street, Goring's Square and London Road or the roads around them. You will find Staines-upon-Thames on the A308 and A320, which makes it straightforward to bring the equipment. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Egham Hythe (1 mile south-west), Penton Hook (2 miles south), Hythe End (2 miles north-west), Egham (2 miles west) and Thorpe (2 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (13 miles south), Woking (8 miles south), Camberley (12 miles south-west), Epsom (12 miles south-east), Ewell (12 miles south-east) and Walton-on-Thames (5 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Ashford Hospital (1.8 miles north-east) and Spelthorne Museum (0.5 miles north-west). Open spaces near Staines-upon-Thames include Staines Reservoirs and Kempton Park Reservoirs.
- Local schools include The Magna Carta School (0.7 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Star pub (less than half a mile north)
Paella catering in Staines-upon-Thames, cooked live
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. Typical bookings include weddings and evening receptions and engagement and anniversary parties, serving mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Gardens in Staines-upon-Thames range from small patios to big lawns, and most can host live paella with a little planning. Have a gazebo ready in case of showers. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
The process
We work to your timings. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh. In Staines-upon-Thames, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are normally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- 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.
Before we arrive
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
Getting a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, use our quote form.
Read more
Why choose paella catering in Staines-upon-Thames?
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
In Staines-upon-Thames and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Big birthdays
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Leaving dos and retirements
Parks such as Penton Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Questions to ask before you book
- What the price includes, item by item
- Allergen information for each dish
- Travel and parking costs
- The wet-weather plan
Where we can cook in Staines-upon-Thames
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. In general, we need:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked in front of your guests and served hot. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Also near Staines-upon-Thames
What else we do in Staines-upon-Thames
Dietary needs and planning tips
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Put allergy details in writing
- Mention any other courses or food
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue doesn’t provide them.
What affects the price in Staines-upon-Thames
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How long we are needed on site
- Parking and unloading
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- The address or venue name
- What the venue already provides
- Which courses you have in mind
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: venue, timings, courses and extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Working with your venue
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will talk you through the process. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Common questions in Staines-upon-Thames
Can you cook in Penton Park?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we’ll send any information they need.
How far is Staines-upon-Thames from London?
Roughly 18 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
How much does paella catering cost in Staines-upon-Thames?
The price depends on numbers, menu, courses, staff and travel. Send us the details for a quote.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know what you have, and we will quote for the rest.
Can you feed plenty of people?
Very much so. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Should we have more than one paella?
Generally two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Do you cover Staines-upon-Thames?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Staines-upon-Thames is within our area. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
How long do you need on site?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
DIY paella versus live catering
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
- 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