West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Handcross, West Sussex
We cook paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events across Handcross and West Sussex, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Music and food festivals
- Country shows
- Charity and school events
Festival paella catering near Handcross
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Flat, firm ground
- Access for unloading at set-up
- Trader information and site rules
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
Popular choices
- Churros
- Giant paella pans
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
Festival paella catering for your event in Handcross
Crew meals are timed to your schedule, keeping your team fed. Whether it is country shows and feeding crew and volunteers, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, churros and vegan paella.
Rural events near Handcross can be a long way from food outlets, so a hot-food stall is a big help. You can add tapas, desserts, sangria, bar staff and waiting staff, so the whole menu comes from one caterer.
- Location
- Handcross (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planners, venues and businesses
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we’ll explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so guests are fed quickly. Tell us how long you have for food.
FAQs for Handcross
How far is Handcross from London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London.
Do you come out to small places like Handcross?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far ahead should we book?
Early, particularly for summer Saturdays. Even if it’s short notice, it’s worth asking.
How quickly can you serve?
Paella is cooked in big batches and served from the pan, so service is quick.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it’s a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
Yes, on request. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but stock and some ingredients may not be, so we cook a gluten-free paella separately.
How many paellas should we have?
Usually two or three, so every guest has a choice. We’ll recommend a mix based on diets.
Places near Handcross
Other catering in Handcross
Catering for every guest
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Send traders one clear trader pack
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Check every diet is covered by the line-up
- Ask traders about packaging and waste
We arrive at the agreed time and set up our pitch, following your trader pack.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
How it works
Service is quick: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so even a long queue moves. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Summer events in Handcross have daylight until about 9:20pm at midsummer and about 7:05pm by late September, so evening trading usually finishes in daylight in high summer. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- Tell us about the event, the crowd and the pitch.
- You get our stall menu and what we need on site.
- We send the documents the event asks for.
- On the day, the pans are on before the busiest hours.
- At close, we pack down and tidy up.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
Ask for a quote
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We’ll come back with a clear quote and a suggested menu.
Related guides
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but there’s shopping, prep and hours of cooking. A caterer handles all of that.
A closer look at the menu
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
Giant paella pans
The huge pan is the star.
Community events around Handcross
Handcross is about 4 miles south of Crawley, in West Sussex. For an event in Handcross, we can cook in gardens, marquees, barns, courtyards and offices. Handcross is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 16 miles away.
School fairs, for a school like Handcross Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. For visitors coming by rail, Balcombe station is about 2.8 miles away.
Festival paella catering in RH17 is planned around your venue. We can cater an event on streets such as High Street, London Road and Windmill Platt. Close by, we cover events in Slaugham (1 mile south), Plummers Plain (2 miles south-west), Colgate (3 miles north-west), Broadfield (3 miles north) and Lower Beeding (3 miles south-west). Larger places within reach include Crawley (4 miles north), Horsham (5 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (7 miles south-east), East Grinstead (10 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (15 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include Crawley Hospital (4.3 miles north). Open spaces near Handcross include Tilgate Lake and Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
- Schools near Handcross include Handcross Park School (0.5 miles north)
- Nearby, you will find The Royal Oak Public House (under half a mile south-west)
What affects the price in Handcross
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
- Parking and unloading
Live paella frequently compares well with a sit-down meal, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Anything your venue supplies
- The date and rough timings
Still deciding on the menu? That is fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we’ll suggest a menu. Start when you are ready: use our quote form.
Why choose live paella in Handcross?
For crew catering, sandwiches are easy but uninspiring. A hot meal keeps crew happy. Cost depends on guest numbers, the menu and the courses, along with staff, extras and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Events in Handcross and across West Sussex
- Sangria and bar staff available
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Live cooking, not reheated food
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
- 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