West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Ditchling, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events turns food into part of your event in Ditchling.
- Open days
- Seasonal markets
- Sports clubs and race days
Festival paella catering for Ditchling events
Ditchling events: pitches and permissions
Ditchling is about 3 miles south of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. Events in Ditchling are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. We cook in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. Our events stretch from Ditchling to Brighton (about 6 miles away).
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as Ditchling Unitarian Chapel, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. For visitors coming by rail, Hassocks station is about 1.4 miles away. Events in and around the South Downs National Park, within about a mile of Ditchling, frequently have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we work to the site rules.
We cover events in every part of BN6. That could mean an event in a garden on High Street, The Twitten and Charlton Gardens. Other places close to Ditchling for festival paella catering include Keymer (1 mile west), Westmeston (1 mile south), Hassocks (1 mile west), Clayton (2 miles south-west) and Hurst Wickham (2 miles north-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (14 miles north), Horsham (13 miles north-west), Worthing (14 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles north), East Grinstead (15 miles north) and Shoreham-by-Sea (9 miles south-west).
A little further out are Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft (within half a mile west) and The Dene Hospital (3.8 miles north-west). Green spaces nearby include Ditchling Beacon and Bedelands Farm Nature Reserve.
- Local schools include Downlands Community School (1.1 miles west)
- Nearby, you’ll find The Bull Hotel (less than half a mile west)
How our festival paella catering works in Ditchling
Paella in a bowl is perfect festival food, on the move or on a picnic rug. Popular choices include chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegan paella, and we’re regularly asked to cater seasonal markets and school and charity events.
For a village fête or field event near Ditchling, we can bring hot food to a rural site. Ground conditions and access matter, so tell us about them. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Location
- Ditchling (BN6)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
The cooking is part of the entertainment. We start with the sofrito, add the stock and saffron, then spread the rice across the pan and leave it alone to cook. For an evening event in Ditchling, sunset is about 8:50pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June; after dark, we need a lit pitch.
- We check your dates.
- We agree what we’ll serve and where.
- We set up our burners and pans.
- The first pans are ready as visitors arrive.
- We serve, then clear the pitch at the end.
Before we arrive
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Give us a contact for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
Ask for a quote
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
Planning for every diet
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Plan seating near the food area
- Ask traders about serving speed at peak times
- Ask for allergen information at each stall
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
At the end, we clear the pitch and leave it clean.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Working with your venue
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
What we need at the venue
We will be honest if a space will not work. What matters most:
- Spacing from tents and other structures
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
- Trader information and site rules
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
What we offer
- Seafood paella
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
- Giant paella pans
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
Places near Ditchling
More for events in Ditchling
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Some traders struggle with vegan and gluten-free options. A vegan paella pan sits alongside the others. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you can choose exactly what you need.
What you get with us
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- A quote that spells everything out
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Read How we price And The cost guide.
How we price festival paella catering
There are no hidden charges: the quote reflects:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How long we are needed on site
- Distance and access to the venue
There’s no one-size-fits-all price for live paella. A simple paella lunch costs less than a wedding with canapés, three paellas and waiting staff. We itemise everything in your quote.
What we need to know
A few details help us give you an accurate quote. Here’s what’s useful:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- The date and rough timings
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The courses you’d like
Planning festival paella catering in Ditchling? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll come back with ideas and a quote. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
DIY paella versus live catering
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and don’t stir once the rice goes in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
What’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan.
Questions from Ditchling
Is Ditchling close to London?
Roughly 40 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Give us accurate numbers for the best result.
Can you provide dessert?
We do. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Do you have the documents we need?
Send your requirements and we will include them with our application.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can, if you tell us in advance. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
- 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