West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Balcombe events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Balcombe.
- Company summer parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Naming days and family parties
Book paella catering in Balcombe
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Guest numbers
- Parking and unloading
- How long we are needed on site
- How many courses
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Getting an accurate quote
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what to include:
- Which courses you have in mind
- Anything your venue supplies
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Balcombe, and we will put together a menu and price.
Paella catering in Balcombe, cooked live
Everything is cooked from scratch on site, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, followed by stock, saffron and rice. Popular choices include vegan paella, seafood paella and paella Valenciana, and typical bookings are for summer garden parties and birthday celebrations.
Somewhere like Balcombe, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Where
- Balcombe (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Planning live paella in Balcombe
Balcombe is about 4 miles north of Haywards Heath, in West Sussex. Tell us where your event in Balcombe will be, and we’ll plan the journey and set-up. We cover 371 places across West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 15 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Balcombe CofE Controlled Primary School, can book us as a food stall. Historic houses near Balcombe include Tyes Place (2.1 miles south-west) and Priest House (3.5 miles east). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. Balcombe is within about 8 miles of the High Weald National Landscape, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the RH17 postcode area, and we can cater your event anywhere in it. Whether your event is on London Road, Stockcroft Road and Deanland Road or anywhere nearby, we can cook there. Main roads around Balcombe include the B2036, which makes travel to your event easy. Other places close to Balcombe for paella catering include Balcombe Lane (1 mile north), Brook Street (2 miles south), Staplefield (2 miles south-west), Worth Abbey (3 miles north) and Whitemans Green (3 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (5 miles north-west), Horsham (8 miles west), Haywards Heath (4 miles south), Burgess Hill (7 miles south), East Grinstead (7 miles north-east) and Broadfield (4 miles north-west).
Well-known places in the area include Princess Royal Hospital (4.9 miles south) and Cuckfield Museum (3.5 miles south). Not far away are Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow and Tilgate Lake.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Few dishes handle mixed diets as well as paella, because each paella is cooked in its own pan. A few tips:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Mention any other courses or food
- Count adults and children separately
- Put allergy details in writing
A short rest after cooking helps, which is when we normally call guests over.
Spanish desserts such as churros or crema catalana finish the meal, or serve your own cake.
Places near Balcombe
Other catering in Balcombe
How the day works
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it’s served at its best. Evenings in Balcombe stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- You get a menu and an itemised quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Give us your final numbers and diets
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Get a quote
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we’ll reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, use our quote form.
Read more
Organising for someone else?
If you are 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.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so guests are fed quickly. Let us know how long the food break is.
Is live paella right for your event?
If you want something different from the usual buffet or roast, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so your choice of paellas affects the total. We will suggest options to suit your budget.
Why choose Love Paella in Balcombe
- Separate pans for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- We cover Balcombe and the whole of West Sussex
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
Read Our pricing Or The cost guide.
Your questions about paella catering in Balcombe
Do you come out to small places like Balcombe?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
How far is Balcombe from London?
Roughly 31 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
How much space do you need?
Level ground for the burners, pans and a table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
Can you supply plates?
We can. Let us know what you have, and we’ll quote for the rest.
What happens if it rains?
Rain doesn’t stop us, as long as there’s a ventilated cover. We’ll talk it through before the day.
Which paellas suit our guests?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is generally the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
Do you have a kids’ option?
Children are welcome. Tell us how many and roughly how old, and we will plan for them.
What we need at the venue
Before the day, we’ll agree where we cook. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
If you’re unsure, send a photo of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Who books paella catering in Balcombe?
It suits relaxed, sociable events, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Whatever you are celebrating in Balcombe, paella can be the star of the food. We often cook for:
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Birthday celebrations
- Staff parties and work lunches
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
Questions to ask before booking
- How late numbers can change
- When payment is due
- The venue requirements
- How each diet is kept separate
- 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