West Sussex · England
Festival Paella Catering in Balls Cross
From the first sizzle in the pan to the last crispy spoonful, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in Balls Cross.
- Open days
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Summer fairs and fêtes
Festival paella catering near Balls Cross
Festival paella catering for your event in Balls Cross
Paella eats well from a bowl with a fork, on the move or on a picnic rug. Typical bookings include crew, volunteer and VIP catering and community events and open days, with seafood paella, giant-pan paella and vegan paella.
At a fête or field event near Balls Cross, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Tell us about the ground and access. Timings are planned around your event, whether that’s speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Where
- Balls Cross (GU28)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
FAQs for Balls Cross
Do you come out to small places like Balls Cross?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Let us know about access and parking.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
A gluten-free pan is no problem. Let us know about coeliac guests in advance so we take the right care.
Can you cook indoors?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we will check with you and the venue.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. We cook from scratch in large pans at your venue, in front of your guests.
What do you need at the venue?
Not a lot: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Before you choose a spot
Safety and good cooking both depend on the spot we use. We look for:
- Access for unloading at set-up
- Firm, level ground
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Vegan paella
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Tapas
- Churros
Is live paella right for your event?
Not every trader covers vegans. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. Live paella often compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We will send you a quote.
Why book with us
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Drinks service on request
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Take a look at Our prices page And The cost guide.
How we price festival paella catering
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- The number of people
- Distance and access to the venue
- How many courses
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The date and rough timings
- The courses you’d like
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Any dietary needs and allergies
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will put together a menu and price.
Events we cater in Balls Cross
A paella stall draws people into the food area.
Live paella works for big and small events alike. Common bookings include:
- Music and food festivals
- Village fêtes
- Community events and open days
- Farmers’ and Christmas markets
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Holy Trinity Church, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
Before you book anyone
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- VAT, if it applies
- How late numbers can change
- The venue requirements
Running an event in Balls Cross
Balls Cross is about 12 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Balls Cross or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Balls Cross is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 15 miles away.
Within about 7 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
We cater events across GU28. Close by, we cover events in Kirdford (2 miles east), Mackerel's Common (2 miles north-east), Plaistow (3 miles north-east), Ifold (4 miles north-east) and Wisborough Green (4 miles east). Further out, we also cater in Horsham (12 miles east), Chichester (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (15 miles south), Rustington (15 miles south), Storrington (10 miles south-east) and Billingshurst (6 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Lodsworth Castle (4.7 miles south-west). Green spaces nearby include The Mens and Shillinglee Lake.
Should I cook it myself?
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
Nearby places to Balls Cross
What else we do in Balls Cross
Dietary needs and planning tips
Most events have a mix of diets. To plan for them:
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Send traders one clear trader pack
- Make sure the line-up includes vegan and gluten-free options
- Book crew catering in advance
Crew meals are served at set times.
Extra pans for busy periods.
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests typically gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. For an evening event in Balls Cross, sunset is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- We confirm our menu, pitch needs and documents.
- On the day, we arrive and set up our pitch.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- At the end, we clear our pitch.
Before we arrive
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Arrange parking near the cooking spot
Ask for a quote
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we are available that day.
Planning help
- 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