West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Ashurst Wood events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Ashurst Wood. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Naming days and family parties
Planning an event in Ashurst Wood?
Paella catering in Ashurst Wood, made fresh on the day
Paella has always been food for a crowd: cooked outdoors in a wide, shallow pan and shared. That’s what we bring to events in Ashurst Wood. Whether it is birthday celebrations and retirement and leaving parties, we’ll put together a menu of vegetable paella, seafood paella and black rice and more.
Somewhere as small as Ashurst Wood, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it’s hot and generous, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Where
- Ashurst Wood (RH19)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Diets, allergies and planning
Most events have a mix of diets. To cater well for them:
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Tell us what else is being served
- Request clear labels at the serving table
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Crockery, cutlery and waiting staff are available if your venue does not provide them.
Organising for someone else?
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we will let you know if live paella is a good fit.
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
Events we cater in Ashurst Wood
Live paella is food and a show in one. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food itself is hot and plentiful.
Big or small, live paella works well. Common bookings include:
- Community events and fairs
- Retirement celebrations
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Weddings and evening receptions
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is East Grinstead station, about 2.1 miles north-west.
Before booking anyone
- Whether crockery, cutlery and napkins are included
- Staff numbers and hours
- How each diet is kept separate
- The deposit and payment dates
How the day works
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, unload, set up the burners and prepare the stock. Guests usually gather round to watch while it cooks. In Ashurst Wood, 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.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- Closer to the day, we confirm timings and the cooking spot.
- On the day we cook live, timed around your event.
- Guests are served from the pan, and our area is cleared afterwards.
Preparing for the day
- Let us know the timings for the day
- Check the venue allows live cooking
- Make sure we can park close by to unload
How to get a price
Planning paella catering in Ashurst Wood? 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’s in the pans
Seafood paella
The secret is a well-made seafood stock. The shellfish is added late so it stays tender.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, for guests who want a bit of everything.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
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.
Your questions about paella catering in Ashurst Wood
Can you cater a reception after a service at St Dunstan?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
How far is Ashurst Wood from London?
Roughly 27 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Can you feed a lot of people?
It’s ideal. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Are premium seafood options available?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
Should we have more than one paella?
Typically two or three, so every guest has a choice. We will recommend a mix based on diets.
Can you do sangria?
Sangria, yes. We can also supply bar staff for your own drinks.
Do you cater for young children?
Yes. Children often love a simple chicken paella. Tell us how many are coming.
Also near Ashurst Wood
What else we do in Ashurst Wood
Paella catering around Ashurst Wood
Ashurst Wood is about 2 miles south-east of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Ashurst Wood. Ashurst Wood is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Ashurst Wood to Brighton (21 miles away).
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Ashurst Wood Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser. For a christening or wedding at a church such as St Dunstan, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. Ashurst Wood is within about 2 miles of the High Weald National Landscape. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cover events in every part of the RH19 postcode area. That could mean an event in a garden on Woods Hill Lane, Wray Close and Woods Hill Close. Other places close to Ashurst Wood for paella catering include East Grinstead (2 miles north-west), Hammerwood (2 miles north-east), Saint Hill Green (2 miles west), Dormans Park (3 miles north-west) and Dormansland (4 miles north). Larger places within reach include Crawley (9 miles west), Horsham (15 miles west), Haywards Heath (10 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (13 miles south-west), Broadfield (10 miles west) and Bewbush (11 miles west).
A little further out are East Grinstead Museum (1.6 miles north-west) and Bolebroke Castle (3.5 miles east). Not far away are Hedgecourt Lake.
- Nearby schools include Stoke Brunswick School (within half a mile north-east) and Sackville School (1.2 miles north-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Maypole Inn (under half a mile east)
Is live paella right for your event?
Food trucks and street-food vans serve one portion at a time. A big pan serves many guests fast, which suits weddings and parties where everyone eats together. When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, sides, travel and VAT. We itemise ours.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Drinks service on request
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
Read Our pricing Or What paella catering costs.
Before you choose a spot
If a space is not suitable, we’ll tell you. What matters most:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
On the menu in Ashurst Wood
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegan paella
- 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