Surrey · England
Paella Catering in Westhumble
Looking for paella catering in Westhumble? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Company summer parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Live paella catering in Westhumble
Paella catering for your event in Westhumble
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. For festivals, fairs and school events and staff parties and work lunches, we’ll put together a menu of mixed paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
Somewhere like Westhumble, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Gates, verges and soft ground are worth mentioning when you enquire. We plan the timings around your day, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
Westhumble: venues, travel and local tips
Westhumble is about 2 miles north of Dorking, in Surrey. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Westhumble and nearby villages. Westhumble is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Westhumble to Guildford (about 10 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Michael, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Nearby historic houses include Polesden Lacey (1.8 miles west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. Westhumble is within about 2 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cook at events all over the RH5 postcode area. Streets in the area include Adlers Lane, Chapel Lane and Burney Road, and we can cook for an event on any of them. We also cook at events in Pixham (1 mile south-east), Mickleham (1 mile north-east), Ranmore Common (2 miles south-west), Dorking (2 miles south) and Westcott (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Guildford (10 miles west), Woking (11 miles north-west), Epsom (6 miles north-east), Horley (9 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (8 miles north-east).
A little further out are Headley Court (3.6 miles north-east) and Betchworth Castle (1.9 miles south-east). Open spaces near Westhumble include Box Hill and Reigate Heath.
- Local schools include St Martin's CofE Controlled Primary School (1.2 miles south)
- Local pubs include Stepping Stones pub (less than half a mile east)
- Local facilities include Pippbrook House (1.2 miles south)
The process
Here’s how the day normally runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. In Westhumble, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 3:55pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or RH5 postcode and guest numbers, plus any dietary needs, and you’ll get a menu idea and a price. To get started, send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Is live paella right for your event?
Barbecues cook in batches, so food comes off in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Fast service from the pan
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
Read Our pricing And The cost guide.
Organising for someone else?
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Should I cook it myself?
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 enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
The menu, dish by dish
Black rice
Black rice gets its colour from squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It’s a striking addition to a seafood menu.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is often the most popular pan at an event.
Westhumble: your questions answered
Is Westhumble too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook in Norbury Park?
Only if the landowner, usually the council, allows it. Ask them first, and we will send any information they need.
Do you cater in Westhumble?
Yes. We cover London and the South East, and Westhumble is within our area and the rest of Surrey. For a quote, use our quote form.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is usually popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
How much does paella catering cost in Westhumble?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we’ll send a quote.
Which paella is most popular?
It depends on your guests. Chicken and mixed paellas tend to go first, with seafood and vegetable pans alongside.
Do you do vegan paella?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces frequently work.
Planning for every diet
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Send allergies to us in writing
- Let us know if anyone has coeliac disease
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Tell us how many children are coming
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we start it at the right moment for your event. If plans change, tell us and we’ll adjust.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
Places near Westhumble
Also in Westhumble
Occasions we cook for in Westhumble
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
In Westhumble and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Company summer parties
- Garden get-togethers
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Birthday celebrations
Parks such as Norbury Park generally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
Before booking anyone
- Space, access and power needs
- Whether VAT is included
- How late numbers can change
- A clear list of what’s included
Space, weather and the venue
No two venues are the same, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
On the menu in Westhumble
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- 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