West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Alfold Bars
Planning paella catering in Alfold Bars? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook in front of your guests.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Paella catering for Alfold Bars events
How the day works
On the day, we set up our cooking area, light the burners and start the sofrito. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, so we time everything to your schedule. In Alfold Bars, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- It is served straight from the pan, and we pack down afterwards.
How to prepare
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Ensure we can park close by to unload
- Make sure the spot is clear of anything flammable
How to get a price
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. Start when you’re ready: use our quote form.
Related guides
About our paella catering in Alfold Bars
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. For weddings, from canapés to evening food and office lunches and staff parties, we can cook vegan paella, vegetable paella and mixed paella and more.
Somewhere like Alfold Bars, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you contact us. We plan the timings around your day, so the paella is ready when you want to eat.
- Location
- Alfold Bars (RH14)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Live paella in Alfold Bars: local details
Alfold Bars is about 9 miles west of Horsham, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of Alfold Bars or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. Alfold Bars is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our events stretch from Alfold Bars to Guildford (about 11 miles away).
Parks such as Fir Tree Copse normally need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Loxwood Primary School, can book us as a food stall.
This part of West Sussex takes in RH14, so your event can be anywhere in it. Local streets include Pigbush Lane and Oakhurst Lane; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. If your venue is just outside Alfold Bars, we also cover Alfold (1 mile north), Loxwood (1 mile south), Ifold (2 miles south-west), Plaistow (2 miles south-west) and Durfold Wood (3 miles west). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (14 miles east), Horsham (9 miles east), Broadfield (14 miles east), Storrington (12 miles south), Billingshurst (6 miles south-east) and Bewbush (13 miles east).
Open spaces near Alfold Bars include Shillinglee Lake.
- Pubs nearby include The Crown pub (within half a mile north)
Dietary needs and planning tips
Allergies and diets are taken seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us how many children are coming
- Confirm allergies by email
- Tell us what else is being served
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
Organising for someone else?
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Organising a club, school or community event in Alfold Bars? Paella is quick to serve to a crowd and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
Who books paella catering in Alfold Bars?
It needs no kitchen, so it’s at home in gardens, fields and marquees where other catering struggles.
These are some of the occasions we cater:
- Community events and fairs
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Milestone birthday parties
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like Church of St Nicholas, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Comparing caterers
- Allergen information for each dish
- What the price includes, item by item
- VAT, if it applies
- When payment is due
Paella compared with other options
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and gives guests something to watch. Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so your choice of paellas affects the total. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Why book with us
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Live cooking, not reheated food
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
See How we price And What paella catering costs.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. We take care of all of it.
About the dishes
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. Shellfish goes in towards the end so it stays tender.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Towns and villages near Alfold Bars
Other catering in Alfold Bars
What paella catering costs
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Waiting and bar staff
- Your choice of paellas
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- The number of people
If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Details that help
To check availability and price, we need:
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
- A photo of the cooking space, if it’s a garden or field
Getting a quote is simple: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Alfold Bars questions
Is Alfold Bars close to London?
Roughly 34 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cater a reception after a service at Church of St Nicholas?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Live cooking typically happens at the reception venue, not the church. Tell us where the reception will be.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
When do you arrive?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. The rice itself takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
What does paella catering cost?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Is paella a full meal?
It’s a full meal on its own. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Can we choose the seafood?
We will talk through seafood options when we plan your menu, including premium options if you want them.
- 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