West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Elsted, West Sussex
Paella for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in Elsted.
- Village fêtes
- Feeding crew and volunteers
- School and charity events
Festival paella catering in Elsted
What’s in the pans
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan, popular with families.
Vegan paella
Vegan paella cooked separately.
Festival paella catering for your event in Elsted
Nothing draws a festival crowd like a huge paella. The sight and smell of it cooking brings people over, and portions are served quickly from the pan. We cook chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegan paella, and we are regularly asked to cater county and country shows and crew, volunteer and VIP catering.
At a field event near Elsted, power and water may be limited; let us know and we’ll plan for it. Timings are planned around your event, whether that is speeches, a lunch break or a festival schedule.
- Location
- Elsted (GU29)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Elsted events: pitches and permissions
Elsted is about 5 miles south-east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. From the centre of Elsted to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. We cook in all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 22 miles away.
Within about 2 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we will follow the site’s requirements.
Anywhere in GU29, we can cook for your guests, from busy streets to quiet lanes. If your venue is just outside Elsted, we also cover East Harting (1 mile west), Elsted Marsh (1 mile north-east), Didling (1 mile south-east), Nyewood (2 miles north-west) and Dumpford (2 miles north-east). Within a short drive, we also cover Bognor Regis (14 miles south-east), Chichester (9 miles south), Emsworth (9 miles south-west), Portfield (10 miles south), Yapton (14 miles south-east) and East Wittering (14 miles south).
A little further out are Midhurst Community Hospital (4.7 miles east). The countryside around Elsted includes Iping and Stedham Commons and Oakham Hill.
- Nearby, you’ll find The Three Horseshoes Public House (within half a mile east)
What festival paella catering costs
Your quote will be clear and itemised. The main things that affect it are:
- How many staff you need
- Timings and hours
- Parking and unloading
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
There is 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 to tell us
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- The address or venue name
- Anything your venue supplies
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Questions from Elsted
Is Elsted too small for live paella?
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 follow the site rules.
Will there be enough food?
Pans are sized to your numbers and other courses. Tell us what else is being served. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
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.
What paperwork do you provide?
Send your requirements and we’ll include them with our application.
Do you do vegan paella?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you cater in Elsted?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and Elsted is within our area and the rest of West Sussex. To check your date, use our quote form.
Perfect for your event in Elsted
It works at small fêtes and big festivals.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Open days
- Seasonal markets
- Country shows
- Sports club events
Running a fête for a church like The Parish Church of St Paul? A paella pan draws people in.
Questions to ask before you book
- The wet-weather plan
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Payment terms and deposit
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For a stall that adds atmosphere, paella is a strong choice. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Events in Elsted and across West Sussex
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
Diets, allergies and planning
Paella is one of the easiest dishes for mixed diets, because every paella has its own pan. Here are a few tips for planning:
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Schedule crew meals
- Give traders a single information pack
- Plan seating near the food area
We cook in full view of visitors, and serve from the pan throughout the event.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
Planning the cooking area
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but a few things matter:
- Clearance from tents and gazebos
- Room for our cooking and serving area
- A level pitch on firm ground
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Tapas
- Vegan paella
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Churros
Nearby places to Elsted
Other catering in Elsted
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
What happens on the day
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. For an evening event in Elsted, sunset is about 8:55pm in late May and 9:20pm in late June; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Tell us about the event, the crowd and the pitch.
- You get our stall menu and what we need on site.
- Paperwork goes over in good time.
- We time the first pans for the lunchtime rush.
- At close, we pack down and tidy up.
How to prepare
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Plan cover in case of rain
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
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