Surrey · England
Paella Party Catering in Merstham
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella catering for birthday parties, garden parties and private events makes the food a highlight of your party in Merstham.
- Family get-togethers
- Christenings and naming days
- Retirement celebrations
Paella party catering near Merstham
Merstham parties: what to know
Merstham is about 2 miles north of Redhill, in Surrey. For paella party catering in Merstham, we plan around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Merstham is one of 395 places in Surrey where we cook. Our events stretch from Merstham to London (16 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Merstham station is about 0.5 miles away. Parks such as Nutfield Marshes usually need permission for cooking, so a garden or hired venue is frequently easier. The Surrey Hills National Landscape is within about 8 miles of Merstham, so many gardens around here have a great outlook.
Anywhere in RH1, we can bring paella party catering to you. From London Road North, Shepherd's Hill and Church Hill or anywhere nearby, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater parties include South Merstham (1 mile south), Gatton (1 mile south-west), Holmethorpe (1 mile south), Hooley (2 miles north) and Netherne on-the-Hill (2 miles north). Within a short drive, we also cover Epsom (7 miles north-west), Horley (6 miles south), Ewell (7 miles north-west), Reigate (3 miles south-west), Walton-on-Thames (14 miles north-west) and Caterham (3 miles north-east).
Nearby you’ll also find Surrey Fire Museum (2.8 miles south-west) and Bletchingley Castle (2.8 miles south-east). Green spaces nearby include South London Downs National Nature Reserve and Colley Hill.
- Nearby schools include Merstham Park School (0.9 miles south) and East Surrey College (1.4 miles south-west)
Paella party catering in Merstham, made fresh on the day
Birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and summer get-togethers all suit live paella. The cooking is the centrepiece, and everyone gets a hot, generous plate. For retirement celebrations and garden get-togethers, we can cook mixed paella, vegetable paella and chicken and chorizo paella.
Country parties near Merstham suit live paella: cooked outside, served from the pan. Plan a gazebo in case of rain. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
Dishes our guests love
Tapas
A few tapas set the scene.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A smoky favourite with children and adults, and a good choice for guests who do not eat seafood.
Is live paella right for your party?
For a party that feels a little special without being formal, live paella is hard to beat. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Why us?
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Catering across Surrey, including Merstham
Take a look at How we price And The cost guide.
Why choose paella party catering in Merstham?
One big dish beats lots of fiddly ones, and there is little waste.
If you’re planning any of these, we can help:
- Family reunions
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Big birthdays
- Christenings and naming days
Christenings and naming days frequently start at a local church such as Church of St Katharine, with a paella lunch at home or in a hall afterwards.
What your quote should include
- The deadline for final numbers
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Allergen information for each dish
- What the caterer needs from your venue
What happens on the day
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. The rice goes in about 20 minutes before serving, so the timing is planned around your event. Sunset in Merstham is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June. If the party runs past dark, we’ll need light where we cook and serve.
- First, we check the date and the space.
- You pick paellas, tapas and desserts.
- The burners go on and the sofrito starts.
- In goes the rice, and guests gather.
- It’s served hot, and we clear away afterwards.
How to prepare
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Give us your final numbers and diets
How to get a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your party, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
What paella party catering costs
These are the factors that matter most:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- How many guests are eating
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Details that help
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Where the event is
- What the venue already provides
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Planning paella party catering in Merstham? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. Just fill in our quote form.
Nearby places to Merstham
What else we do in Merstham
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Count adults and children separately
- Give the neighbours a heads-up
- Put out bins for general waste and recycling
- Have enough chairs for most guests
We’re set up before guests arrive.
Plates, cutlery and waiting staff can be added.
Merstham questions
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.
What’s the nearest station to Merstham for guests?
The closest is Merstham station, roughly 0.5 miles away.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
How far ahead should we book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so contact us early.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
Do you take everything away?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Table clearing is available with waiting staff.
How far in advance should we book?
Early is best, but ask even if it’s soon. Send your date and we will check.
What happens if it rains?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Working with your venue
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Booking for a company? Tell us what your finance team needs, and we will explain how it works. We can work with your facilities team on access and timings.
- 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