Good questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about ordering, delivery, café visits or catering? This page covers everything from our handmade freezer meals and UK-wide delivery to cookery classes, events, and visiting our café at Silent Pool. Planning a visit or placing an order, you will find clear answers here.
01 - Visiting us
General Enquiry
Is Mandira's Kitchen open for walk-ins?
Yes, we are open every day. Sunday to Friday, 10am until 5pm. Saturday, 10am until 6pm. Last orders from the cafe are half an hour before closing. Opening hours during public holidays may vary. The café welcomes walk-ins daily for fresh chai, samosas and Indian street food on the patio overlooking Silent Pool. Booking is advised at weekends. Events and cookery masterclasses need to be booked in advance.
Do you run cookery classes and masterclasses in Surrey?
Yes. We run a Spice Masterclass, Biryani Masterclass, Chutneys and Cocktails Workshop, and a half-day Easy Indian Cookery Experience, all from our barn at Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9BW. Dates and booking are here.
Can I buy Indian freezer meals at the shop?
Yes. Our award-winning handmade Indian freezer meals are available in-store every day at Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9BW. We also deliver nationwide, so you can order online too.
Do you offer corporate catering and venue hire?
Yes. We cater for corporate events, private dining, team days and client entertaining, at our barn at Silent Pool or at your venue. Email enquiries@mandiraskitchen.com or have a look at our catering page.
Is there parking at Mandira's Kitchen, Silent Pool?
Yes, free parking is available in the Silent Pool car park. Please register your vehicle at the machine in the car park on arrival when you spend £10 or more. We are at Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9BW, following signs for Silent Pool Distillery.
Is Mandira's Kitchen dog-friendly?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the patio. We are right on the Silent Pool walking route through the Surrey Hills, so we see plenty of muddy boots and happy dogs. Fresh water available on request.
02 - Orders and delivery
Freezer Meals
How long do meals keep?
Six months in the freezer. Every pack carries its own date, so you never have to guess.
Most of what we make goes straight from freezer to pan, no defrosting needed. If you do defrost something in the fridge, use it within 48 hours and do not refreeze it.
How many portions are in a typical pack?
In our standard freezer meals, unless stated otherwise, each pack contains two individual portions. So you can either share your favourite, or keep one in the freezer for a later date.
What is a Happiness Box?
You can order a pre-made box of happiness or create your own. Many of our customers like to have their favourite meals delivered every month by choosing a 6, 8 or 10 dish box. There is also the option of choosing a different selection of meals each month.
Do I have to commit to a Happiness Box every month?
No, there is no commitment. If you book a monthly box and your freezer is getting a little full, you can gift your box to someone else, talk to us about exchanging it for a cookery lesson or a spice tour, or just pause your subscription. And of course you can cancel at any time.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver to any UK mainland address. We also offer delivery to the Scottish Highlands, Isle of Wight and Northern Ireland, but there are additional charges so please check with us. Some of our customers from these areas get together and place a larger order to share and split the delivery cost.
When do you deliver?
If you are local, we usually deliver within 2 to 3 working days. For deliveries further afield, depending on the day of your order, we send orders via overnight courier to arrive on either the following Tuesday or Friday. If you have a special request for a delivery date on a weekday, let us know and we will send your food on a date to suit the occasion. We also offer Saturday or pre-9:00am delivery for an extra charge.
Monthly boxes usually arrive on either the second or fourth Friday of the month.
What if I'm not at home when my order arrives?
If we are delivering locally, we will let you know when to expect us and you can make arrangements if you are not going to be in.
If we have sent your order overnight, the courier will text or email you with an hour's slot so you know when to expect it. You can tell the courier to leave it with a neighbour or in a safe place. Please note: if you do not, the courier will not leave the box, and because the food is frozen it cannot be returned to us and will be destroyed.
How environmentally friendly is your packaging?
Our meals are packaged in cardboard trays with un-laminated sleeves, which can all go in your paper recycling.
Our frozen food arrives in insulated boxes. The lining is made of environmentally friendly sheep's wool and can easily be recycled, or if you are local, do feel free to return it to us.
03 - Feeding more people
Catering and Thali Clubs
What is the weekend thali club?
As well as our freezer meal range, we offer a limited number of thali meals every weekend. A thali is a selection of dishes with different flavours served on a round platter. A Mandira's Kitchen thali comes with a Bollywood playlist, a film recommendation and a quiz. The menu changes every week. Thalis must be pre-booked and picked up on Friday or Saturday.
Do you sell your food in larger quantities?
If you have friends for dinner and want some of our meals prepared for you in larger trays, drop us an email. You can pick your order up, reheat it and pretend you cooked it yourself.
We have also introduced larger trays for our most popular dishes. One tray holds enough for four or ten people. We only make a limited amount, so if you cannot see what you would like, please give us a call.
Do you sell any dishes other than your freezer meal range?
Yes. We have lots of different menus that we use for our weekend thali club and our catering. Talk to us if there is something you would like to try.
As part of our monthly subscription boxes, we also offer a monthly special which changes each month.
Do you cater for large events?
We cater for large and small events and offer a variety of menus to suit all occasions and budgets. We can offer full service and work with a selection of partners, from hire companies to bar services, florists to marquee hire. More about catering here.
04 - Classes and supper clubs
Food Experiences
How do I book a cookery class or spice tour?
All our classes and tours are bookable on our website. Alternatively, you can email or phone and book yourself onto a class.
Can I book a private cookery class or spice tour?
Yes, bespoke cookery classes or spice tours can be arranged for family celebrations, school groups or corporate events. Email us and we will arrange a class to suit the occasion.
What is a Supper Club?
Our Supper Clubs offer a unique fine dining experience and a wonderful alternative to restaurants. They take place in a variety of venues and each one is unique.
Each Supper Club is themed around a season, festival or region of India. Spaces are limited and need to be booked in advance.
We are also happy to run you your very own supper club on a date of your choice, for a minimum of 12.
Still not answered?
Ring us and you will get a person, usually within a couple of rings. We are here every day.
enquiries@mandiraskitchen.com
Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey GU5 9BW
Sunday to Friday, 10am to 5pm · Saturday, 10am to 6pm
Last orders from the cafe are half an hour before closing.
Opening hours during public holidays may vary.