West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Billingshurst, West Sussex
Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Billingshurst: paella cooked from scratch in huge pans, in full view of your guests.
- Birthday celebrations
- Summer garden parties
- Naming days and family parties
Planning an event in Billingshurst?
Billingshurst questions
How far is Billingshurst from London?
Roughly 36 miles from the centre of London, and we cover it as standard.
We’re having a ceremony at Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is typically elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
What do you need at the venue?
Less than you might think: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. Send us a photo if you are not sure.
Can you cook indoors?
Indoors only where ventilation and the venue allow it. Most events have us cooking outside or in a doorway or courtyard.
Is halal food available?
We can. Let us know your halal numbers, and it’s cooked separately.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. Our guide to portions explains more.
Can you serve tapas as well?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas go out first, then the paella.
About our paella catering in Billingshurst
We cook every paella from scratch on the day, starting with a slow sofrito of onion, garlic, peppers and tomato, then the stock, saffron and rice. Typical bookings include weddings and evening receptions and anniversaries and engagement parties, serving vegan paella, black rice and mixed paella.
In a smaller place like Billingshurst, a garden party is frequently the simplest option: no venue hire, and nobody stuck cooking. Tell us about access down the lane or drive. Every pan is cooked in front of your guests, so it arrives hot and becomes part of the event.
- Location
- Billingshurst (RH14)
- County
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
When the rice goes in, it is left alone. That is what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Evenings in Billingshurst stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it’s dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- You share your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Keep the cooking spot clear of fences, hedges and branches
Get a quote
Send us the date, your venue or RH14 postcode and guest numbers, along with any dietary needs, and you will get a menu idea and a price. Just send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Billingshurst: venues, travel and local tips
Billingshurst is about 6 miles south-west of Horsham, in West Sussex. From the centre of Billingshurst to the outskirts, we offer the same service: live cooking, separate pans for every diet and a clear price. Billingshurst is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex we cover. Our events stretch from Billingshurst to Guildford (16 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Old Place Manor (4.9 miles south-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Billingshurst Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
For paella catering in RH14, we plan around your venue and timings. From High Street, Station Road and Lower Station Road or a nearby road, we can cook there. Other places close to Billingshurst for paella catering include Coneyhurst (2 miles south-east), Newpound Common (2 miles north-west), Five Oaks (2 miles north-east), The Haven (3 miles north) and Slinfold (4 miles north-east). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (13 miles north-east), Horsham (6 miles north-east), Worthing (14 miles south), Haywards Heath (15 miles east), Burgess Hill (15 miles east) and Littlehampton (15 miles south).
Not far away are The Mens.
- Local schools include The Weald School (less than half a mile south-west)
- Pubs nearby include The Railway Inn (less than half a mile south)
Places near Billingshurst
What else we do in Billingshurst
For event organisers in Billingshurst
If you’re booking for a business, tell us how you’d like to handle the booking and payment, and we will explain how it works. We’re happy to liaise with facilities on access and timings.
Planners and coordinators can contact us directly, and we’ll keep you updated on timings and set-up.
Why choose paella catering in Billingshurst?
Paella is one of the few dishes that handles mixed diets easily, thanks to separate pans for each version. Nobody gets a token ‘special meal’.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Billingshurst, people book us for events such as:
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Anniversary celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
For guests coming by train, Billingshurst has its own station, Billingshurst station.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- How bad weather is handled
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- If the price includes VAT
Prices and what affects them
These are the factors that matter most:
- Chicken, vegetable or premium seafood
- Starters, canapés and desserts
- Timings and hours
- Distance and access to the venue
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.
What we need to know
You don’t need everything decided to ask for a quote, but it helps to know:
- The address or venue name
- Approximate guest numbers, including children
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Diets and allergies you know about
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Is live paella right for your event?
Plated meals need a kitchen and a bigger team. Live paella needs a level, ventilated spot and the venue’s permission to cook, and it is entertaining too. Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
Why us?
- Tapas, canapés and desserts if you want them
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Catering across West Sussex, including Billingshurst
Diets, allergies and planning
A little planning makes sure everyone can eat. Here’s how:
- Request clear labels at the serving table
- Put allergy details in writing
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
- Let us know about other food at the event
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Dishes our guests love
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan.
Vegetable and vegan paella
A slow sofrito, seasonal vegetables and a good vegetable stock make a proper main dish. For vegans, the stock is plant-based.
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Some hosts like to cook themselves. The usual problems are a pan too big for the burner, too much rice and stirring once the rice is in. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
- 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