West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Forge Wood, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Forge Wood. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Open days and community events
- Festivals
- Sports clubs and race days
Festival paella catering near Forge Wood
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
How our festival paella catering works in Forge Wood
We can trade as a stall or cook for crew, volunteers and VIP areas. On the menu are vegan paella, seafood paella and churros, and we’re regularly asked to cater farmers’ and Christmas markets and sports club events.
In Forge Wood, one trader covering most diets keeps it simple. Paella does exactly that. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Location
- Forge Wood (RH10, RH6)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
What happens on the day
When we arrive, we set up the burners and pans and start cooking the sofrito and stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. At midsummer, events in Forge Wood stay light until about 9:20pm, so evening trading generally finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- First, we check the dates.
- We agree menu and pitch.
- Burners and pans go up.
- Pans are cooking as gates open.
- We serve, then clear the pitch at the end.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
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Questions from Forge Wood
Can you run a stall at a school fair in Forge Wood?
Yes, with the school’s permission. Tell us the date and pitch details.
Could we have live paella in Worth Park Gardens?
Only with permission from the park’s owner, normally the council. Check with them, and we’ll provide our paperwork.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Can you feed our volunteers?
Yes, at set times to suit your schedule. Tell us numbers and timings.
How do you work out quantities?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Who clears up?
We clear our cooking area away when service is finished. Waiting staff can clear tables if you book them.
Can you cater for children?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
What paperwork do you provide?
Tell us what the event needs and we will send it with our application.
Running an event in Forge Wood
Forge Wood is about 2 miles north-east of Crawley, in West Sussex. From the centre of Forge Wood to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Forge Wood is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 20 miles away.
For visitors coming by rail, the nearest station is Three Bridges station, about 1.4 miles south. If your event is in Worth Park Gardens, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission; we will supply our paperwork.
Anywhere in RH10 and RH6, we can cook for your guests. Whether your event is on Moore Road, Steers Lane and Radford Road or a nearby road, we’ll bring the pans to you. For events just outside Forge Wood, we cover Tinsley Green (1 mile north), Pound Hill (1 mile south), Shipley Bridge (1 mile north-east), Copthorne (1 mile east) and Three Bridges (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (9 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (10 miles south), Burgess Hill (12 miles south), East Grinstead (6 miles east), Broadfield (4 miles south-west) and Billingshurst (15 miles south-west).
Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Museum (2.1 miles south-west) and Langley Green Hospital (1.7 miles west). The countryside around Forge Wood includes Tilgate Lake.
- Nearby schools include The Gatwick School (0.5 miles west) and Hazelwick School (1 mile south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Greyhound pub (under half a mile north-west)
Planners, venues and businesses
Organising a club, school or community event in Forge Wood? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Events in public spaces, like parks, usually need permission. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Space, weather and the venue
Live paella is cooked over gas burners in large pans, so the cooking area needs a little planning. Here’s what we look for:
- Trader information and site rules
- Pitch space for cooking and serving
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
Popular choices
- Giant paella pans
- Tapas
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
Towns and villages near Forge Wood
What else we do in Forge Wood
The menu, dish by dish
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling.
Giant paella pans
A pan the size of a cartwheel, full of saffron rice.
Live paella or other catering?
Crew sandwiches are easy but dull. A hot meal keeps crew happy. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, along with staff, extras and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why Forge Wood hosts choose us
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Fast service from the pan
Take a look at How we price Or Our guide to catering costs.
What affects the price in Forge Wood
Each event is quoted on its own, based on a few main things:
- Parking and unloading
- The length of service
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- How many courses
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
What we need to know
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- The date and time of the event
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
We quote for each event separately, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Occasions we cook for in Forge Wood
It works at small fêtes and big festivals.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Forge Wood and nearby. Some of the most common are:
- County and country shows
- Open days and community events
- Sports club events
- Music and food festivals
School fairs, for a school like Forge Wood Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall.
Before booking anyone
- How each diet is kept separate
- Staff numbers and hours
- The deposit and payment dates
- The deadline for final numbers
- 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