Surrey · England
Wedding paella catering in Headley, Surrey
Hot, generous and cooked in front of everyone: paella catering for weddings, from canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening food in Headley and the surrounding area.
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Receptions after an intimate ceremony
- Big weddings with every diet
Wedding paella catering in Headley
About our wedding paella catering in Headley
Timing is everything with paella: the rice needs about 20 minutes and is best served immediately. We plan it around your speeches and photos. Typical bookings include weddings with lots of dietary needs and evening food for extra guests, with canapé tapas, evening paella and table tapas.
Near Headley, weddings are frequently in fields, barns or gardens. That is exactly where live paella shines: no kitchen, just a level, sheltered spot. Let us know about access and ground. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: menu, staff, crockery and anything else you choose, with no surprises on the day.
Prices and what affects them
There is nothing hidden: the price is based on:
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Timings and hours
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Getting an accurate quote
You don’t need every detail fixed to get a quote, but it helps to know:
- The date and time of the event
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- Anything your venue supplies
- The courses you’d like
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
What we need at the venue
The right spot keeps things safe and helps the paella cook evenly. We look for:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A separate open-sided gazebo if the meal is in a marquee
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Table tapas
- Canapé tapas
- Dessert
- Sangria & bar staff
- Evening paella
- Paella wedding breakfast
How the day works
Here’s how the day generally runs: we arrive, set up and start cooking, your guests watch the rice cook, and we serve straight from the pan when you are ready to eat. Golden-hour photos in Headley at midsummer come around 9:20pm, which helps us time evening food around your photos. In late May, sunset is about 8:50pm, and in late September about 7:05pm.
- Share your date, venue, numbers and plans for the day.
- We build the menu course by course and send a quote.
- We fit our timings around your speeches, photos and venue.
- On the day, we set up, cook in front of your guests and serve each course.
- Afterwards we clear our area; any staff you’ve booked stay as planned.
Preparing for the day
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Share the running order, including any speeches
Getting a price
Thinking about wedding paella catering for your wedding in Headley? Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Common questions in Headley
Is Headley close to London?
About 17 miles from central London.
Can you cook in Nower Wood?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, usually the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Do you offer halal options?
We can. Tell us how many guests need halal food, and we will cook a separate pan.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
What if our speeches run late?
We adapt. We keep in touch with your venue on the day so the paella is served fresh.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. The rice is gluten-free, but stocks and chorizo can contain gluten, so we make a separate gluten-free pan.
Why choose live paella in Headley?
If you are weighing up paella against a traditional menu, consider your venue, diets and the style you want. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. Everything is confirmed in writing.
Why Headley hosts choose us
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Catering across Surrey, including Headley
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
Planners, venues and businesses
Events in public spaces, like parks, generally need permission. We can send whatever the landowner or council needs from us.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
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 for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
A DIY paella party works for small groups. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Perfect for your wedding in Headley
It works as a wedding breakfast or evening food, so it fits any plan.
Here are some of the events we cook for around Headley:
- Marquee and garden weddings
- Weddings with lots of dietary needs
- Vow renewals and civil ceremonies
- Farm and barn venues
Historic houses near Headley include Polesden Lacey (4.5 miles south-west) and Fitznells Manor (4.8 miles north). Historic houses and estates often have their own rules on caterers and cooking, so check early if that’s your venue.
What to look for in a quote
- How each diet is kept separate
- How late numbers can change
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- What happens if it rains
Also in Headley
About the dishes
Paella wedding breakfast
The main event: paellas for every diet, served straight from the pan.
Desserts
Churros with chocolate, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago, or your cake as dessert.
Planning a paella wedding in Headley
Headley is about 2 miles south-east of Ashtead, in Surrey. Wherever your wedding is in the KT18 area, we can bring the pans to you. We cover 395 places across Surrey. We cook right across the region, from Headley to Guildford (about 13 miles away).
Planning photos in Nower Wood? It is worth checking the park’s rules first. For guests travelling by train, Tadworth station is about 1.9 miles away. With the Surrey Hills National Landscape within about 3 miles, there are country venues, barns and gardens nearby. Check vehicle access and cooking rules with the venue.
We cover weddings in every part of KT18 and the streets around it. Local streets include Tilley Lane, Cunliffe Close and Lee Green; a wedding at home on any of them works well with live paella. Other places close to Headley for wedding paella catering include 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). Within a short drive, we also cover 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).
Other landmarks nearby include Headley Court (0.5 miles north) and The Ashley Centre (3.3 miles north). Green spaces nearby include Box Hill and Reigate Heath.
- 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