Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Tilford Reeds
Looking for paella catering in Tilford Reeds? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Naming days and family parties
Live paella catering in Tilford Reeds
Your questions about paella catering in Tilford Reeds
Is Tilford Reeds close to London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Church of All Saints: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is normally elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three covers most guests. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Is halal food available?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
How long does the paella take?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
When should we book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Do you do desserts?
Yes, Spanish desserts can be added. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes, and they’re popular with everyone. They have their own pans, stock and spoons.
About our paella catering in Tilford Reeds
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. For garden parties and summer barbecues and fairs, fêtes and festivals, we can cook seafood paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
Somewhere like Tilford Reeds, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
How it works
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook while your guests chat. Evenings in Tilford Reeds stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, tell us about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, use our quote form.
Planning help
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many courses
- Guest numbers
- Timings and hours
- How many staff you need
The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- What the venue already provides
- Diets and allergies you know about
- The address or venue name
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Tilford Reeds: venues, travel and local tips
Tilford Reeds is about 2 miles south-east of Farnham, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Tilford Reeds will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Tilford Reeds is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 9 miles away.
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Church of All Saints, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like All Saints CofE Aided Infant School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. Tilford Reeds is within about 5 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of GU10. Nearby, we also cater events in Tilford (1 mile north-east), Tilford Common (1 mile south-east), Millbridge (1 mile south-west), Lower Bourne (1 mile north-west) and Shortfield Common (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (9 miles north-east), Woking (12 miles north-east), Camberley (11 miles north), Frimley (9 miles north), Haslemere (7 miles south) and Cranleigh (13 miles east).
A little further out are Farnham Castle (3 miles north-west) and Museum of Farnham (2.7 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Upper Lake and Farnham Heath.
- Schools near Tilford Reeds include Edgeborough School (1.3 miles west) and South Farnham School (2.1 miles north-west)
- Nearby, you will find Barley Mow pub (0.6 miles east)
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Also near Tilford Reeds
More for events in Tilford Reeds
Is live paella right for your event?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- A quote that spells everything out
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
Read Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
What we need at the venue
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise before booking.
Popular choices
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Paella Valenciana
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. A few tips:
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we serve when guests are ready.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
Events we cater in Tilford Reeds
It needs no kitchen, so it works in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Naming days and family parties
Parks such as Moor Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before booking anyone
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Staff numbers and hours
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Whether VAT is included
Working with your venue
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
- 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