West Sussex · England
Festival Paella Catering in Hardham
Planning festival paella catering in Hardham? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Charity and school events
- Food and music festivals
- Open days and community events
Festival paella catering for Hardham events
Festival paella catering in Hardham, cooked live
We can trade as a stall or cook for crew, volunteers and VIP areas. For charity and school events and community events and open days, we’ll put together a menu of seafood paella, giant-pan paella and vegan paella for your guests.
At a field event near Hardham, power and water may be limited; let us know and we’ll plan for it. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Location
- Hardham (RH20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Price
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
How the day works
Serving is fast: the paella goes straight from the pan to the plate, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. For an evening event in Hardham, 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.
- Burners and pans go up.
- Pans are cooking as gates open.
- We serve, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
Ask for a quote
Still deciding on the menu? That’s fine: tell us about the occasion and the guests, and we will suggest a menu. To start, use our quote form.
Related guides
More for events in Hardham
Hardham: your questions answered
Is Hardham too small for live paella?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Hardham close to London?
About 42 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you do crew catering?
We can. We can cook for crew, volunteers or a hospitality area as well as, or instead of, a public stall.
When should we book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so get in touch early.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Courtyards, doorways and terraces often work.
Will there be long queues?
Service from the pan is fast, which suits busy periods.
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.
Can you cook in the rain?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there is a ventilated cover. We’ll make a plan B with you.
Catering for every guest
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Check allergen info is on display
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Schedule crew meals
- Plan seating near the food area
We set up at the agreed time.
Vegan paella alongside the rest.
The menu, dish by dish
Giant paella pans
The giant pan is the star.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling, popular with families.
Community events around Hardham
Hardham is about 10 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Across the RH20 area, we can bring the pans to you. Hardham is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Brighton, about 19 miles away.
Running a fête for a church like St Botolph's Church? A paella pan draws people in. For visitors coming by rail, Pulborough station is about 0.7 miles away. Within about 3 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
We cook at events all over the RH20 postcode area and the streets around it. If your venue is just outside Hardham, we also cover Coldwaltham (1 mile south-west), Pulborough (1 mile north-east), Watersfield (2 miles south-west), Fittleworth (2 miles north-west) and Lower Horncroft (2 miles west). Within a short drive, we also cover Horsham (12 miles north-east), Worthing (10 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (13 miles south-west), Chichester (13 miles south-west), Littlehampton (10 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (14 miles south-east).
Well-known places in the area include Amberley Museum (3.6 miles south) and Coates Castle (2.8 miles west). Open spaces near Hardham include Bignor Hill and Amberley Wildbrooks RSPB Reserve.
- Local pubs include The White Hart Public House (0.7 miles north-west)
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. The main things that affect it are:
- The paellas you choose
- Parking and unloading
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- The number of people
Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
What we need to know
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- Which courses you have in mind
- A picture of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Most quotes start with a few simple details: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, use our quote form.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
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.
Events we cater in Hardham
It covers several diets with one trader, which saves pitches.
If you are planning any of these, we can help:
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Open days
- County and country shows
- Seasonal markets
If you’re organising a summer fair or fundraiser for a school such as St James' CofE Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Before you book anyone
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- Who provides the crockery
- What the price includes, item by item
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
For event organisers in Hardham
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll keep everyone informed on the day.
Throwing a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Planning the cooking area
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space before we confirm. Generally, we look for:
- A level pitch on firm ground
- Spacing from tents and other structures
- Access for unloading at set-up
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we’ll say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Tapas
- Churros
- Seafood paella
- Giant paella pans
- 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