Let’s face it, unless you really enjoy cooking, you’re likely going to consider party catering for your event! In Surrey, you’re spoiled for choice. So, first things first.
What to think about when catering a party
Guest count and mix — kids, elderly relatives, big appetites, mixed tastes. The right format scales differently for six people round a kitchen table than for fifty in a garden.
Formal or informal — a sit-down celebration wants a different feel to an easy, help-yourself afternoon. Even the table changes mood: a garden party with grazing platters is worlds apart from a formal plated dinner indoors.
Dietary variety — parties rarely have one uniform palate. Vegetarian, vegan, spice tolerance and allergies all need covering without everyone eating something different.
Logistics — who's setting up, who's clearing away, who is providing the tableware and table cloths, and whether you want staff there or food simply dropped off ready to go.
Budget and lead time — both shift depending on format and guest count, so it's worth deciding roughly how big and how formal before you compare options.
Where Indian food fits in
"I grew up in India, where the heart of the home is the kitchen. Socialising always centres around food."
— Parul, Founder & Director
(Round & About magazine, Dec 2025)
Indian food is built for sharing — a table of curries, sides and breads was never designed to be eaten alone, which makes it a natural fit for a group that wants to graze, pass plates around and go back for more. It also solves the "everyone wants something different" problem better than most cuisines: a large amount of genuinely good Indian cooking is vegetarian, or easily made so, so a mixed table of meat-eaters and vegetarians can eat from the same spread rather than a separate "veggie option" bolted on. And it scales in mood as easily as it scales in number — from an easy, informal box of curries and accompaniments for four, to a full plated dinner for a milestone birthday.
The options available
Formats range from casual to formal: ready-to-eat party boxes for a relaxed get-together, grazing hampers and a High Chai spread for nibbling and afternoon gatherings, self-serve hot buffets for bigger numbers, a dabba delivery for something a little different, and full private dining for a sit-down celebration.
See the full detail on each format, including what's included, on our catering page →
Curious what a hot buffet or a private dining evening actually looks like? We've written about both on the blog: Self-serve hot buffet experiences and Bespoke private dining experiences.
Why The Travelling Tikki
"As far back as I can remember, my grandmum and mum have loved laying out a fabulous party table — not just the food, but the tablecloth, the napkins, the decoration, all just right. So when you sit down at their table, it feels special."
— Parul, Founder & Director
(Blog post "Bespoke private dining experiences," Oct 2025)
All our food is handmade fresh to order, including our own spice blends — roasted and ground in-house, no artificial colours or flavouring. We only take on a small number of events at a time, so every party gets real attention to detail. Meat comes from Rawlings & Kensett in Bookham and F. Conisbee in East Horsley, and vegetables from Layton's Green Grocers in Bookham — all Surrey-based, chosen for quality and service. We're a sustainable business too — reusable, recyclable or compostable tableware, and pre-orders encouraged to cut food waste.
What Surrey hosts say
"Thank you so much for yesterday, it was fabulous, delicious food and plenty of it! and just such a treat having someone make it look so nice. Thank you again, it made it really special."
— Anna
"Parul catered for my birthday celebration at home and she was incredible! The whole experience was exceptional, she visited the venue beforehand to understand the space, arrived well before the event to set up and collected everything the next morning. Most importantly her food was delicious!!"
— Hannah
"Travelling Tikki food is absolutely divine! My husband and I enjoyed a beautifully prepared afternoon tea that was not only delicious but looked incredible too! Thank you so much Parul 🤩"
— Kate
Read more reviews on our Reviews page, or on Google or Facebook.
Our offer for private parties
We cater everything from an intimate dinner for two up to parties of around fifty, cooked fresh from our kitchen in West Horsley (GU23). We're happy to travel up to an hour to an hour and a half or so from there. Every menu is built bespoke around what you and your guests actually want to eat.
Party catering, quick answers
Read our FAQs, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, drop us a message.
Ready to plan your party? Tell us your date, your guest count and what kind of event it is, and we'll help you pick the right format. Enquire using the form on our catering page.