West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in River, West Sussex
Paella for every guest: meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan pans side by side. Paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events in River.
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Open days
- VIP and hospitality areas
Planning an event in River?
Festival paella catering for your event in River
Crew meals are timed to your schedule, so your team eats well on a long day. On the menu are giant-pan paella, churros and chicken and chorizo paella, and typical bookings are for open days and community events and agricultural and county shows.
At a field event near River, power and water may be limited; tell us what’s available and we will plan around it. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- River (GU28)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Catering for every guest
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Put all trader information in one pack
- Check traders’ packaging and waste plans
- Book crew catering in advance
- Make allergen information visible at every stall
Allergen details are available at the stall, and each pan is labelled.
A vegan pan alongside the meat and seafood pans.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
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.
Also in River
FAQs for River
Is River close to London?
Roughly 42 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
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 work to whatever the site needs.
How long do you need on site?
We get there in good time to set up. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, timed around your event.
Do you cook inside?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, because we use gas burners. We will check whether your venue has a suitable space.
What happens if it rains?
Rain does not stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook it there and then, then serve straight from the pan.
Can you feed our volunteers?
Yes, at set times to suit your schedule. Send us numbers and times.
Should we have more than one paella?
Most events have two or three: meat or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. We will suggest a split based on your guests.
Paella compared with other options
For crew catering, sandwiches are easy but uninspiring. A hot meal keeps crew happy. Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. The full price is confirmed before you book.
What you get with us
- No hidden extras in your quote
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
Event catering near River
River is about 12 miles east of Petersfield, in West Sussex. We cater events at homes, gardens and venues in River and nearby villages. River is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 17 miles away.
Within about 4 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
Here we cover the GU28 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Upperton (1 mile east), Selham (2 miles south), Tillington (2 miles south-east), South Ambersham (2 miles south-west) and Hampers Green (2 miles east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (14 miles south), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (14 miles south-east), Rustington (15 miles south-east), Storrington (11 miles south-east) and Billingshurst (9 miles east).
Nearby you’ll also find Lodsworth Castle (1.3 miles south) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (3 miles south-east). Not far away are Graffham Common and Blackdown.
- Local pubs include The Hollist Arms Public House (0.7 miles west)
What we need at the venue
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so we need a suitable spot. These are the things we check:
- Spacing from tents and other structures
- Details of power, water and waste arrangements
- Room for our cooking and serving area
If you are unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
What we offer
- Tapas
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Giant paella pans
- Vegan paella
- Churros
Occasions we cook for in River
It brings theatre to the food court.
Whatever you are celebrating in River, paella can be the star of the food. We regularly cater:
- Open days
- Agricultural and county shows
- Charity and school events
- VIP and hospitality areas
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as The Parish Church of St Peter, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
Comparing caterers
- How long the team stays
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- When payment is due
- Space, access and power needs
Dishes our guests love
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan, popular with families.
Seafood paella
Seafood paella is always popular.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we do not stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. The smell generally draws people over. Evening events in River have light until about 9:20pm at midsummer; after that, the pitch needs good lighting.
- Organisers send us the event details, dates and pitch information.
- We confirm what we’ll serve, our pitch needs and any paperwork.
- On the day, we arrive and set up our pitch.
- The paella cooks in full view, and we serve from the pan through the event.
- We clear the pitch and leave it clean.
Getting ready for the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
Get a quote
Thinking about festival paella catering for your event in River? Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll reply with a menu and a clear price. To get in touch, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
What affects the price in River
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, depending on:
- Guest numbers
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many staff you need
- The length of service
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we will suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Which courses you have in mind
- The date and rough timings
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- The address or venue name
The quickest way to a quote is to use our quote form. Tell us about your event in River, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
- 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