Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Tongham, Surrey
Looking for paella catering in Tongham? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Retirement and leaving parties
Paella catering near Tongham
Paella catering in Tongham, cooked live
Live paella catering means we bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients to your event and cook in front of your guests. When it is ready, it is served straight from the pan. Popular choices include seafood paella, mixed paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for milestone birthday parties and staff parties and work lunches.
A place like Tongham often has a hall, a club or a pub garden nearby; any can work for paella, with permission and somewhere outside to cook. You’ll know exactly what’s included before you book: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Places near Tongham
Other catering in Tongham
Step by step
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, and we agree where that is before the day. Around midsummer it stays light in Tongham 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’s dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Start with the date, the place and the numbers.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Getting ready for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Tongham? Tell us what you have in mind and we will come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is ready all at once, so everyone eats together. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why book with us
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. What matters most:
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Tongham: venues, travel and local tips
Tongham is about 1 mile south-east of Aldershot, in Surrey. For paella catering in Tongham, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in 395 places across Surrey, from the larger towns to small villages. You can also see our page for Guildford, about 7 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Paul, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Historic houses near Tongham include Wanborough Manor (3.1 miles east) and Farnham Castle (3.2 miles west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one.
Wherever your event is in GU10, we can bring paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. We can cater an event on streets such as The Street, Chester Way and Lambourne Way or the roads around them. Nearby, we also cater events in Sandy Cross (1 mile south), Ash (1 mile north-east), Seale (1 mile south-east), Ash Green (1 mile north-east) and Badshot Lea (1 mile west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (7 miles east), Woking (9 miles north-east), Camberley (7 miles north), Farnham (3 miles south-west), Frimley (6 miles north) and Haslemere (10 miles south).
Nearby you’ll also find Ash Museum (1.3 miles north-east) and Farnham Castle (3.2 miles west). Green spaces nearby include Aunt's Pool and Hog's Back.
- Local schools include The Connaught School (less than half a mile north-west) and Ash Manor School (0.5 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The White Hart pub (less than half a mile south-east)
- Other local spots include Seale and Tongham (1 mile south)
Your questions about paella catering in Tongham
What’s the nearest station to Tongham for guests?
The closest is Ash station, roughly 1.4 miles away.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Paul?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Live cooking usually happens at the reception venue, not the church. Send us the reception address.
What about pudding?
We do. Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana, or you can serve your own cake.
Do you cover Tongham?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, including Tongham and the rest of Surrey. To check your date, fill in our quote form.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Tell us how many are coming.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Perfect for your event in Tongham
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
In Tongham and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Some of the most common are:
- Garden get-togethers
- Big birthdays
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like St Paul's CofE Infant School & Nursery, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What to look for in a quote
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When final numbers are due
- VAT, if it applies
- When payment is due
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Count adults and children separately
- Confirm allergies by email
- Make sure each pan is labelled
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Let the paella rest for a few minutes before serving, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Working with your venue
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
What affects the price in Tongham
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Details that help
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what to include:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The venue or postcode
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
- 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