West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Bolney events
Planning paella catering in Bolney? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Anniversary celebrations
- Retirement celebrations
Book paella catering in Bolney
Common questions in Bolney
How far is Bolney from London?
Roughly 35 miles from the centre of London.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll follow the site rules.
Who clears up?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
How much space do you need?
Less than you might think: a flat spot away from anything flammable, with space to serve. Send us a photo if you’re not sure.
Is live paella good for a large crowd?
Yes, that’s what it’s made for. We size pans and serving points to your guest list.
Do you cater for vegetarian guests?
Of course. Vegetarian and vegan paellas are cooked in separate pans, alongside the meat and seafood pans.
How long does the paella take?
We arrive well before serving to set up and start the stock. Once the rice goes in, it takes about 20 minutes, and we time it to your schedule.
Are premium seafood options available?
Tell us your preferences and we will suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
How our paella catering works in Bolney
Almost any venue with a level, ventilated spot will do: a garden, marquee, barn, courtyard or field. For company summer parties and community events and fairs, we will put together a menu of black rice, paella Valenciana and vegetable paella and more.
In a hamlet or village like Bolney, your own garden or a neighbour’s field can make a wonderful venue. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan and clearly labelled.
- Area
- Bolney (RH17)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
The process
We arrive in good time before you want to eat, set up the cooking area and get the stock going. Guests generally gather round to watch as the paella takes shape. In Bolney, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are usually served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- First, you send us your date, venue, numbers and diets.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- On the day, we set up the burners and pans and get the stock going.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Preparing for the day
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Let us know the timings for the day
Get a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. To send them, fill in our quote form.
Related guides
Perfect for your event in Bolney
It’s ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Anniversary celebrations
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Family celebrations and christenings
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
If you are organising a summer fair for a school like Bolney CofE Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
Comparing caterers
- What the price includes, item by item
- How late numbers can change
- Whether travel is included
- When payment is due
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
You can cook paella for a crowd yourself, but it takes practice. Large pans need the right burners, and getting the rice right at scale is tricky. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
For a small group, cooking yourself can work well. For larger numbers, mixed diets or a wedding, a caterer takes the pressure off, and keeps vegetarian and allergy-safe pans separate.
Why choose live paella in Bolney?
For something a little different, live paella adds colour, smell and theatre to your event in Bolney. Compared with a plated meal, live paella is often good value, because it needs no kitchen and fewer staff. Ask us for a quote.
Why book with us
- Drinks service on request
- Hot food served quickly from the pan
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
Read How we price Or The cost guide.
What we need at the venue
We’ll agree the cooking spot with you before the day. It needs to meet a few simple requirements:
- Parking close enough to carry equipment
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If you’re unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before you book.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Paella catering around Bolney
Bolney is about 4 miles north-west of Burgess Hill, in West Sussex. From the centre of Bolney to the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. We cook in 371 places in West Sussex. We cook right across the region, from Bolney to Brighton (about 12 miles away).
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like St Mary Magdalene's Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Nearby historic houses include Ockenden Manor (2.5 miles east) and Tyes Place (3.2 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. The South Downs National Park is within about 7 miles of Bolney. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Anywhere in RH17, we can bring paella catering to you. Local streets include The Street, Cherry Lane and Top Street; an event at home on any of them works well with live paella. We also cook at events in Crosspost (1 mile south-west), Twineham Green (2 miles south), Twineham (2 miles south), Wineham (3 miles south-west) and Kent Street (3 miles south-west). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (8 miles north), Horsham (7 miles north-west), Worthing (15 miles south-west), Haywards Heath (5 miles east), Burgess Hill (4 miles south-east) and East Grinstead (12 miles north-east).
Well-known places in the area include The Dene Hospital (2.6 miles south-east) and Cuckfield Museum (2.6 miles east). Open spaces near Bolney include Blunts Wood and Paiges Meadow.
Nearby places to Bolney
Other catering in Bolney
Working with your venue
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep everyone informed on the day.
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Bolney? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we will suggest a menu.
What paella catering costs
There are no hidden charges: the price is based on:
- The number of people
- Waiting and bar staff
- Whether you need crockery
- Distance and access to the venue
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: staff, crockery, bread and salads, travel and VAT. Our quotes spell it all out.
Details that help
To speed things up, tell us:
- Roughly how many adults and children
- Whether the venue has crockery or staff
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Diets and allergies you know about
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Dietary needs and planning tips
Good planning keeps every guest safe and happy. Try these:
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
- Tell us what else is being served
- Ask for labels on each pan
A short rest after cooking helps, and that’s when we invite guests up.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside.
- 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