Surrey · England
Live paella catering in Wonersh, Surrey
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Wonersh: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, right in front of your guests, with tapas, desserts and drinks if you want them.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Anniversary celebrations
- Community events and fairs
Paella catering in Wonersh
How our paella catering works in Wonersh
Two or three pans side by side cover every guest: meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan paellas. Each is cooked separately. We’re frequently asked to cater retirement and leaving parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food, with seafood paella, vegetable paella and mixed paella.
For a rural spot like Wonersh, the countryside is part of the appeal: a paella cooking in a garden or field feels right at home. Tell us about access and the ground. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in a separate pan.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
A plated meal needs a kitchen, more staff and typically costs more per head. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
See Our prices page And The cost guide.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
The original paella from Valencia is a countryside dish of chicken and vegetables, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella starts with a good fish and shellfish stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Catering an event in Wonersh
Wonersh is about 4 miles south of Guildford, in Surrey. Tell us where your event in Wonersh will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cater in all 395 towns and villages across Surrey.
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chilworth station, about 1.5 miles north-east. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Bramley CofE Aided Infant School and Nursery, can book us as a food stall. Wonersh is within about 4 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the GU5 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on The Street, Woodyers Close and The Close or the roads around them. We also cook at events in Bramley (1 mile west), Shamley Green (1 mile south-east), Birtley Green (1 mile south), Stroud Common (2 miles south-east) and Grafham (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (4 miles north), Woking (8 miles north), Camberley (12 miles north-west), Epsom (15 miles north-east), Farnham (11 miles west) and Reigate (15 miles east).
Other landmarks nearby include Surrey Police Museum (2.6 miles north-west) and Guildford Castle (2.9 miles north-west). Open spaces near Wonersh include St Martha's Hill and Silent Pool.
- Nearby schools include St Catherine's School (0.7 miles west) and Broadwater School (2.2 miles west)
- Pubs nearby include The Grantley Arms Public House (less than half a mile west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Tell us what your venue needs and we’ll work to it.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Wonersh? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Give us the details and we’ll suggest a plan.
What happens on the day
Watching it cook is half the fun. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring while your guests chat. Evenings in Wonersh 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.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Tell us where to park and unload
Getting a price
Planning paella catering in Wonersh? Send us the details and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Towns and villages near Wonersh
What else we do in Wonersh
What paella catering costs
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Travel, parking and access
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
The cost per head normally falls as numbers rise, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: give us the basics about your event, and we will suggest a menu. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Where we can cook in Wonersh
No two venues are the same, so we’ll ask about yours when you contact us. Generally, we look for:
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
Common questions in Wonersh
Do you come out to small places like Wonersh?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
We’re having a ceremony at Wonersh United Reformed Church: 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.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How much space do you need?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Will there be enough food?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. Our menu lists the options.
Can you feed a lot of people?
It is ideal. Big pans feed a lot of people, and service from the pan is quick.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Planning for every diet
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To make it work smoothly:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Have seats for most of your guests
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Send allergies to us in writing
The rice takes about 20 minutes once it goes in, so we time it carefully. If plans change, tell us and we will adjust.
Bread, salad and lemon wedges make the meal go further.
- 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