Surrey · England
Paella party catering in Headley, Surrey
Planning paella party catering in Headley? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Big family gatherings
- Christenings and naming days
- Retirement and leaving parties
Live paella party catering in Headley
Step by step
The cooking is part of the entertainment. Onion, garlic, peppers and tomato go in first, then the stock and saffron, then the rice, which cooks without stirring. A summer party in Headley stays light until about 9:20pm at midsummer, which gives a garden party a long evening. By late September sunset is around 7:05pm, so plan festoon lights for later parties.
- It starts with your date, address, numbers and any diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm 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.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Getting a price
Most quotes start with a few simple details: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Planning help
Paella party catering in Headley, cooked live
Paella is made for relaxed parties: served from the pan, shared and enjoyed, so nobody needs a formal seating plan. Popular choices include vegetable paella, mixed paella and tapas, and we are regularly asked to cater neighbourhood celebrations and garden parties and summer barbecues.
Near Headley, parties are frequently in gardens or fields. Tell us about lanes and parking, and we will plan the set-up. Each paella is cooked from scratch on the day, not reheated.
What affects the price in Headley
Your quote will be clear and itemised. What affects it most:
- How many guests are eating
- How many courses
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Distance and access to the venue
Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
What we need to know
These details help us quote quickly:
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Where the event is
- Roughly how many adults and children
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.
Should I cook it myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and do not stir once the rice goes in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
Headley parties: what to know
Headley is about 2 miles south-east of Ashtead, in Surrey. Give us the address of your party in Headley, and we will plan access and set-up. Headley is one of 395 towns and villages in Surrey where we cook. Our events stretch from Headley to Guildford (about 13 miles away).
Thinking of a party in Nower Wood? Cooking in a public park typically needs permission from the council or landowner, so check first. Historic houses near Headley include Polesden Lacey (4.5 miles south-west) and Fitznells Manor (4.8 miles north). If you’re hiring a historic venue for a big birthday, check its rules on outside caterers first. Headley is within about 3 miles of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, so a garden party here comes with a lovely backdrop.
This part of Surrey takes in KT18, and we can cater your party anywhere in it. From Tilley Lane, Cunliffe Close and Lee Green or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Nearby, we also cater parties in Walton on the Hill (2 miles east), Tadworth (2 miles north-east), Box Hill (2 miles south), Lower Kingswood (3 miles east) and Kingswood (3 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Guildford (13 miles west), Woking (13 miles west), Epsom (4 miles north), Horley (9 miles south-east), Redhill (6 miles south-east) and Ewell (5 miles north).
Well-known places in the area include Headley Court (0.5 miles north) and The Ashley Centre (3.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Box Hill and Reigate Heath.
More for events in Headley
Dishes our guests love
Vegetable paella
Vegetarians get a real main course, and meat eaters frequently try it too.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky, satisfying and popular with children, and a good choice for guests who do not eat seafood.
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Headley? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a photo of the garden and tell us about access, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
Common questions in Headley
Can you cook at venues in the Surrey Hills National Landscape?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will follow the site rules.
Is Headley 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.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Is the paella cooked on site?
Yes. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, then serve straight from the pan.
How early should we book?
As early as you can for summer weekends, which fill up first. Ask about your date.
Should we have more than one paella?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. Tell us about your guests’ diets and we will suggest the mix.
Can you supply plates?
Yes, if you need them. Let us know and we will add it to the quote.
Which areas do you serve?
London and South East England: Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Bucks, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Diets, allergies and planning
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Have cover ready for a shower
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Collect dietary needs with your invites
- Ensure children stay back from the pans
When you are ready to eat, we serve straight from the pan.
Sangria sets the mood.
Is live paella right for your party?
Ordering in is easy but forgettable. Live paella is something guests remember. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Headley hosts choose us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Served hot, straight from the pan
Take a look at Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Where we can cook in Headley
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Send a picture of the garden so we can check
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Paella Valenciana
- 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