West Sussex · England
Festival & event paella in West Dean, West Sussex
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in West Dean. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Christmas and farmers’ markets
- Village fêtes
- Crew, volunteer and VIP catering
Live festival paella catering in West Dean
Festival paella catering for your event in West Dean
Organisers can book us as a stall or as caterers for staff, crew, volunteers or VIP areas. Whether it’s sports clubs and race days and school fairs and fundraisers, we will put together a menu of vegan paella, chicken and chorizo paella and giant-pan paella.
Rural events near West Dean can be a long way from food outlets, so a hot-food stall is a big help. All the cooking equipment comes with us, and we clear our cooking area away afterwards.
- Where
- West Dean (PO18)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
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.
Who books festival paella catering in West Dean?
It adds theatre to a food line-up.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in West Dean book us for events such as:
- Open days and community events
- School fairs and fundraisers
- Sports clubs and race days
- Village fêtes
For visitors coming by rail, Fishbourne station is about 4.8 miles away.
Before booking anyone
- Whether VAT is included
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When final numbers are due
- Who provides the crockery
What affects the price in West Dean
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Your choice of paellas
- Parking and unloading
- How long we’re needed on site
- Whether you need crockery
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before booking.
Details that help
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- The address or venue name
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Expected numbers
Every quote is put together for your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
What else we do in West Dean
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want a trader that adds atmosphere, a paella pan delivers. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We’ll suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in West Dean
- A clear, itemised quote
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Take a look at Our prices page Or The cost guide.
What happens on the day
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. When service is finished, we pack down. Summer events in West Dean 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. Winter markets, dark by about 4:00pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- 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.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Leave space around the cooking area
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you are ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Dietary needs and planning tips
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Send traders one clear trader pack
- Ask about peak-time capacity
- Plan for vegan and gluten-free visitors
- Feed crew and volunteers at set times
We cook in full view of visitors, and serve from the pan throughout the event.
Catering for crew and VIP areas.
West Dean questions
How far is West Dean from London?
About 51 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you run a stall at a school fair in West Dean?
Yes, if the school is happy for us to cook on site. Send us the date, pitch and expected numbers.
How many paellas should we have?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We will help you decide the split.
Who clears up?
Our cooking area is packed away and left clean. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How much does festival paella catering cost in West Dean?
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Is it really cooked live?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, in front of your guests.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
What documents can you send?
Share your trader requirements.
Event catering near West Dean
West Dean is about 4 miles north of Chichester, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of West Dean or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cater in all 371 towns and villages across West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from West Dean to Guildford (25 miles away).
For a church fête or fundraiser, at a church such as The Parish Church of St Andrew, a paella stall adds a hot meal to the cakes and tombola. School fairs, for a school like West Dean CofE Primary School, are a natural fit for a paella stall. Within about 6 miles is the South Downs National Park, where events may have extra rules on vehicles and waste; we work to the site rules.
Anywhere in PO18, we can bring festival paella catering to you, from busy streets to quiet lanes. Other places close to West Dean for festival paella catering include Singleton (1 mile east), Charlton (2 miles east), East Dean (3 miles east), Cocking (3 miles north) and Bepton (4 miles north). We also cook in nearby towns such as Bognor Regis (9 miles south-east), Chichester (4 miles south), Selsey (12 miles south), Littlehampton (13 miles south-east), Emsworth (8 miles south-west) and Rustington (13 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Chichester Castle (4.5 miles south) and Museum of Gardening (under half a mile north-east). The countryside around West Dean includes Levin Down and Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve.
Working with your venue
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on timings and set-up.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
The seafood pan is a festival favourite.
Chicken & chorizo paella
Smoky and filling, popular with families.
- 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