Surrey · England
Paella party catering in Dorking, Surrey
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events turns food into part of your party in Dorking.
- Naming days and christenings
- Garden get-togethers
- Street and neighbourhood parties
Paella party catering in Dorking
Paella compared with other options
Compared with a barbecue, paella is served all at once, so everyone eats together. And nobody is stuck at the grill. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why Dorking hosts choose us
- A quote that spells everything out
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Drinks service on request
Read Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
How our paella party catering works in Dorking
Homes, gardens, clubs and hired venues all work in and around Dorking. We are frequently asked to cater anniversary celebrations and milestone birthdays, serving seafood paella, chicken and chorizo paella and churros.
Garden parties are a favourite in Dorking, with a local hall or club as a good back-up if the garden is small. We just need a level spot to cook. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and a queue moves quickly.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
You can hire equipment and do it yourself, but there is shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
Perfect for your party in Dorking
It brings a bit of holiday feeling to a garden party.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Dorking:
- Retirement celebrations
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Big birthdays
- Naming days and christenings
Christenings and naming days often start at a local church such as Church of St Paul, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
Questions to ask before booking
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- The wet-weather plan
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
How we price paella party catering
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Whether you need crockery
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How long we are needed on site
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Details that help
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Expected numbers
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
Planning paella party catering in Dorking? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, use our quote form.
Planning a party in Dorking
Dorking is about 10 miles north-west of Crawley, in Surrey. Across the RH4 area, we can cook for your guests. Dorking is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Dorking to Guildford (about 11 miles away).
Parks such as Deepdene Terrace usually need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. If guests are coming by rail, the nearest station is Dorking Deepdene station, about 0.6 miles north. Dorking is within about 2 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
Wherever your party is in RH4 and RH5, we can bring paella party catering to you. From High Street, Station Road and London Road or anywhere nearby, we’ll bring the pans to you. With the A24 and A25 close by, Dorking is simple for us to get to for your party. Nearby, we also cater parties in Pixham (1 mile north-east), North Holmwood (1 mile south), Westhumble (2 miles north), Westcott (2 miles west) and Blackbrook (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (11 miles west), Woking (12 miles north-west), Epsom (8 miles north), Horley (8 miles south-east), Redhill (7 miles east) and Ewell (9 miles north).
Other landmarks nearby include Mesolithic Museum (3.9 miles south-west) and Headley Court (4.8 miles north-east). Open spaces near Dorking include Reigate Heath and Box Hill.
- Nearby schools include The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north) and The Ashcombe School (0.6 miles north)
- Pubs nearby include The Wheatsheaf Public House (less than half a mile north-west)
- Other local spots include Pippbrook House (0.5 miles north)
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Count adults and children separately
- Plan a covered spot for wet weather
- Let the neighbours know
- Keep children and pets away from the burners
At food time, we serve straight from the pan, while you enjoy your guests.
We can bring plates, cutlery and staff.
Working with your venue
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
What else we do in Dorking
What happens on the day
From set-up to serving, we look after the food, so you are free to enjoy your party. Any tapas or canapés are served first as the rice is cooking. At midsummer, it is light in Dorking until about 9:20pm, so a garden party can run well into the evening. In late September it is dark by about 7:05pm; add lights for the evening.
- It starts with your date, address, numbers and any diets.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a quote.
- We arrive, set up in your garden or venue and start the sofrito.
- The paella cooks while your guests chat, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan and clear our cooking area away when we’re done.
Before we arrive
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Getting a price
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. To send your details, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- A quick photo of the spot helps us plan
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Space well away from trees, fences and gazebo walls
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Tapas
- Churros
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
Dorking questions
Is Dorking close to London?
Roughly 21 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cook in Deepdene Terrace?
Only if the landowner, normally the council, allows it. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
How soon do we need to book?
As early as you can, especially for summer weekends. Ask about your date even if it is soon.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
Can you provide dessert?
We can add a dessert. Tell us what you have in mind when you ask for a quote.
How much does paella party catering cost in Dorking?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas and we’ll reply with a price.
Is paella OK for kids?
Paella is popular with children, particularly a simple chicken pan. Let us know numbers and ages.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
- 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