West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in Southgate, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, paella street food for festivals, fairs, markets and community events makes the food a highlight of your event in Southgate.
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Village fêtes
Festival paella catering in Southgate
Festival paella catering in Southgate, made fresh on the day
A paella stall covers several diets at once: separate meat, seafood and vegan pans. That makes life easier for organisers. For charity and school events and county and country shows, we’ll put together a menu of giant-pan paella, churros and chicken and chorizo paella.
Village fêtes and summer fairs around Southgate are made for a paella stall. Send us the pitch and access details. Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Area
- Southgate (RH10, RH11)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Quoted for your event
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Try these:
- Send traders one clear trader pack
- Agree waste arrangements with traders
- Put picnic tables near the traders
- Schedule crew meals
We clear the pitch and leave it as we found it.
Churros and tapas can join the menu.
Fairs, fêtes and events in Southgate
Southgate is about 1 mile south-west of Crawley, in West Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Southgate and nearby villages. Southgate is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Southgate to Brighton (about 19 miles away).
If your event is in Tilgate Park, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission; we’ll supply our paperwork. For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as St Mary's, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH10 and RH11, so your event can be anywhere in it. That could mean an event in a garden on Oak Road, Cook Road and Colet Road. Southgate sits on or near the A2004 and A2219, which makes travel to your event easy. Close by, we cover events in Crawley (1 mile north-east), Tilgate (1 mile east), West Green (1 mile north), Three Bridges (1 mile north-east) and Langley Green (2 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Horsham (6 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south-east), Burgess Hill (11 miles south), East Grinstead (8 miles east), Billingshurst (13 miles south-west) and Roffey (5 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Crawley Museum (0.7 miles north) and County Mall (0.5 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Tilgate Lake.
- Local schools include Three Bridges Junior School (less than half a mile north-east) and St Wilfrid's Catholic School (0.5 miles west)
- Nearby, you will find The Downsman pub (within half a mile south-east)
Also near Southgate
More for events in Southgate
About the dishes
Chicken & chorizo paella
A hearty, smoky pan.
Seafood paella
Prawns, mussels and squid.
DIY paella versus live catering
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather be with your guests, we’ll do the cooking.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
Questions from Southgate
Do you trade at school fairs around Southgate?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
How far is Southgate from London?
About 27 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Can you do gluten-free paella?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
How long do you need on site?
It depends on the menu and numbers. We agree the timings in advance.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a little extra built in. Accurate numbers help.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Yes, it’s the classic pairing. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
Can you cater for crew and volunteers?
We can. We can cook for crew, volunteers or a hospitality area as well as, or instead of, a public stall.
Live paella or other catering?
For crew catering, sandwiches are easy but uninspiring. A hot paella keeps crew going. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. We’ll send you a quote.
Why choose Love Paella in Southgate
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Fast service from the pan
Step by step
We get there well before serving, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests normally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. At midsummer, events in Southgate stay light until about 9:20pm, which helps evening trading. For winter markets, dark by about 3:55pm, the pitch needs lighting.
- First, we check the dates.
- We agree menu and pitch.
- We set up our burners and pans.
- The first pans are ready as visitors arrive.
- We serve, then pack down.
Getting ready for the day
- Arrange a covered spot for wet weather
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Check the venue allows live cooking
Ask for a quote
Planning festival paella catering in Southgate? Send us the details and we will reply with a menu and a clear price. Just use our quote form.
Planning help
Planning the cooking area
We cook in large pans over gas burners, so the cooking area needs a little planning. These are the things we check:
- Vehicle access before and after the event
- Your arrangements for power, water and waste
- A pitch big enough for the pans, burners and serving table
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly before you book.
Menu ideas
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Giant paella pans
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Churros
- Tapas
Events we cater in Southgate
It feeds crew and volunteers well on a long day.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in Southgate book us for occasions like:
- Country shows
- School and charity events
- Summer fairs and fêtes
- Open days and community events
For visitors coming by rail, Crawley station is in Southgate itself.
Questions to ask before booking
- Staff numbers and hours
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- If the price includes VAT
- Payment terms and deposit
For planners, venues and organisers
For repeat events, such as annual staff parties or seasonal fairs, let us know your dates early, so we can hold the date.
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
- 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