West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Birdham events
Bring the theatre of live paella to your event in Birdham. We cook from scratch on site, then served hot from the pan.
- Staff parties and work lunches
- Community events and fairs
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
Book paella catering in Birdham
Paella catering in Birdham, made fresh on the day
The cooking is half the fun. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. We are often asked to cater festivals, fairs and school events and office lunches and staff parties, serving paella Valenciana, mixed paella and seafood paella.
Somewhere as small as Birdham, 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. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Birdham (PO20)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
FAQs for Birdham
Is Birdham close to London?
Roughly 58 miles from the centre of London, and well within our area.
Do you come out to small places like Birdham?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Of course. We cook vegetarian and vegan paellas in their own pans.
What space do you need to cook?
Not a lot: a level spot clear of fences, hedges and branches, with room for a serving table. If in doubt, send a photo.
Do you offer halal options?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in a separate pan.
Which paellas do you recommend?
It depends on your guests. A chicken or mixed paella is typically the most popular, alongside seafood and vegetable or vegan pans.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We plan for rain with you in advance.
Does paella work for big events?
Yes. Large pans and fast service from the pan make it well suited to crowds.
Working with your venue
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we will follow them.
For larger events, we plan the number of pans and serving points around your timings, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, and is normally served with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Mixed paella
Chicken and seafood together, and a popular all-rounder.
Diets, allergies and planning
Nearly every event has some special diets. To cater well for them:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Pick a mix of paellas to cover every diet
- Give us separate numbers for children
- Ask for labels on each pan
You shouldn’t have to worry about the food on the day. We set up, cook and serve, and stay in touch with your venue about timings.
Tapas or canapés make a good start as the rice cooks.
What affects the price in Birdham
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- Extra courses such as canapés, tapas and dessert
- Crockery and cutlery, or disposables
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
- How many guests are eating
Premium seafood costs more than chicken or vegetables, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Getting an accurate quote
Good planning starts with a few facts. Try to include:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- The date and rough timings
- The venue or postcode
- The courses you’d like
Getting a quote is simple: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We’ll send a clear, itemised quote and a suggested menu.
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, as there’s no kitchen to hire and fewer staff to pay. Ask us for a quote.
What you get with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
- Fast service from the pan
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
Read Our prices page And Our guide to catering costs.
Nearby places to Birdham
What else we do in Birdham
Should I cook it myself?
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and handles separate pans for each diet.
What happens on the day
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests normally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. Around midsummer it stays light in Birdham until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it is dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Send us 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.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
How to prepare
- Confirm numbers and diets before the day
- Have a gazebo or cover ready if rain is likely
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
Get a quote
The more you tell us, the more accurate the quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we’ll tell you, and suggest an alternative. The main points are:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Somewhere close to park and unload
- Level ground for the pans and burners
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
Menu ideas
- Vegetable paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
Birdham: venues, travel and local tips
Birdham is about 4 miles south-west of Chichester, in West Sussex. Events in Birdham are planned around your venue and timings: a quote, a plan and live cooking on the day. Birdham is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. You can also see our page for Southampton, about 26 miles away.
For a christening or wedding at a church such as St James' Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Birdham CE Primary School, can book us as a food stall. The coast is within about 5 miles of Birdham, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cater events across PO20 and the streets around it. That could mean an event in a garden on Old Common Close, Main Road and Walwyn Close or the roads around them. For events just outside Birdham, we cover Somerley (1 mile south-west), Almodington (1 mile south), Shipton Green (1 mile west), Highleigh (2 miles south-east) and Earnley (2 miles south). Further out, we also cater in Bognor Regis (6 miles east), Chichester (4 miles north-east), Selsey (5 miles south-east), Littlehampton (13 miles east), Emsworth (6 miles north-west) and Rustington (14 miles east).
Nearby you will also find Chichester Castle (4.1 miles north-east) and St Richard's Hospital (4.4 miles north-east). Green spaces nearby include Pilsey Island.
- Pubs nearby include The Birdham Public House (less than half a mile north-east)
- 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