West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Albourne
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Albourne. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Christenings and family gatherings
Paella catering in Albourne
About our paella catering in Albourne
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, beginning with a sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include office lunches and staff parties and leaving dos and retirements, serving paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and vegan paella.
In a small place like Albourne, events are usually in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We cook every pan in full view of your guests, so the food is hot, fresh and part of the occasion.
- Location
- Albourne (BN6)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: artichokes, beans, peppers and saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Seafood paella
A rich seafood stock with prawns, mussels and squid, cooked until the rice is golden. It is the pan people photograph.
What happens on the day
The paella is cooked in huge, shallow pans over gas burners. It needs a level spot with some shelter and good ventilation, which we agree with you beforehand. In Albourne, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Pick a flat, firm spot for us to cook
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Leave space around the cooking area
Getting a price
We quote for each event separately, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Read more
Albourne: your questions answered
Is Albourne close to London?
Roughly 39 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Albourne?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook while everyone watches, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Can you supply plates?
If you need them, yes. Proper crockery or quality disposables can be added to your booking.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight.
Can paella be the only main course?
It can be. Paella with bread and salad makes a full main course, and tapas or dessert can be added.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
How far ahead should we book?
The sooner the better. Peak dates go quickly, so get in touch early.
Nearby places to Albourne
What else we do in Albourne
Diets, allergies and planning
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Help us by following these steps:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Confirm allergies by email
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Add a dietary question to your invitations
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
DIY paella versus live catering
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For big numbers or lots of diets, a caterer makes life easier, and handles separate pans for each diet.
Occasions we cook for in Albourne
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in Albourne and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Company summer parties
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Anniversary celebrations
- Christenings and family gatherings
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St Bartholomew, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- VAT, if it applies
- The venue requirements
- Allergen information for each dish
- Payment terms and deposit
Paella catering around Albourne
Albourne is about 4 miles south-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. From the centre of Albourne to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cover all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Albourne to Brighton (about 8 miles away).
For guests coming by train, Hassocks station is about 2.8 miles away. If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like Albourne CofE Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. The South Downs National Park is within about 5 miles of Albourne, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Paella catering in BN6 is planned around your venue. Close by, we cover events in Albourne Street (1 mile east), Albourne Green (1 mile north-east), High Cross (1 mile north-west), Blackstone (1 mile west) and Woodmancote (2 miles south-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Crawley (12 miles north), Horsham (10 miles north-west), Worthing (11 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (7 miles north-east), Burgess Hill (4 miles north-east) and Shoreham-by-Sea (7 miles south).
Other landmarks nearby include The Dene Hospital (2.9 miles north-east) and The Budding Foundation Museum of Gardening (2.5 miles east). Green spaces nearby include Wolstonbury Hill and Woods Mill.
Before you choose a spot
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
What we offer
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Prices and what affects them
The same guest numbers can mean different prices, because of:
- Your choice of paellas
- How long we are needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
To check availability and price, we need:
- What the venue already provides
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and time of the event
- A picture of the space, if you can
We need only a few details to quote: the date, where the event is, how many guests and any dietary needs. You can send us your details through our quote form.
For event organisers in Albourne
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we will work directly with you and the venue. It keeps things simple.
Many venues have rules for outside caterers: where cooking is allowed, access times and the paperwork they need. Tell us what your venue needs and we will work to it.
- 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