West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Chelwood Gate events
Looking for paella catering in Chelwood Gate? We arrive with the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
Planning an event in Chelwood Gate?
About our paella catering in Chelwood Gate
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. For engagement and anniversary parties and family celebrations and christenings, we will put together a menu of chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella and vegetable paella for your guests.
Somewhere as small as Chelwood Gate, a garden or field is often the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, with each paella cooked in its own pan.
- Location
- Chelwood Gate (RH17)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Diets
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
About the dishes
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood.
Should I cook it myself?
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. 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.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. We are happy to give you a quote to compare.
The process
A typical event goes like this: we arrive, set up and start cooking, the rice cooks in front of your guests, and we serve straight from the pan at the agreed time. Evenings in Chelwood Gate 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 the menu with you, including every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The sofrito, stock and rice go in, and guests gather to watch.
- We serve hot from the pan and clear our cooking area.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Tell us where to park and unload
- Check the venue allows live cooking
How to get a price
Every event is quoted individually, so you only pay for what you need. For a quote, send us your details through our quote form.
Planning help
Common questions in Chelwood Gate
Is Chelwood Gate close to London?
About 31 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Do you come out to small places like Chelwood Gate?
No, we cook in small places too. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is paella enough as a main?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
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.
Can you provide dessert?
Yes. Churros, crema catalana and tarta de Santiago are popular choices, or you can serve your own cake.
Which areas do you serve?
London and the South East: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, including Chelwood Gate.
Can you cater for children?
Yes. A simple chicken paella is typically popular with children. Include children in your numbers.
How much paella per person?
We plan quantities from your guest numbers, timings and other courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
Why choose paella catering in Chelwood Gate?
Paella is quick to serve and suits mixed diets, which is why it works for so many occasions. It also gives guests something to watch and talk about.
Whatever the occasion, live paella can be the centrepiece. We frequently cook for:
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Birthday celebrations
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Family celebrations and christenings
If you’re celebrating after a service at a church like Chelwood Gate Church, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well.
What to look for in a quote
- How long the team stays
- Travel and parking costs
- If the price includes VAT
- What the caterer needs from your venue
Planners, venues and businesses
Planning an event for a club, school or charity in Chelwood Gate? Live paella feeds a crowd quickly and suits most diets. Tell us about the event and we’ll suggest a menu.
Hosting a party at home? Send us a picture of the garden and tell us about access, and we will tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Is live paella right for your event?
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain to your event in Chelwood Gate. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. Every event gets its own quote.
Why us?
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Cooking your guests will gather round to watch
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
Nearby places to Chelwood Gate
Also in Chelwood Gate
What we need at the venue
Most gardens and venues can host live paella, but there are a few things to check:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise before you book.
Popular choices
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Seafood paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Diets, allergies and planning
With a little notice, every diet is easy. Our advice:
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Ensure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Ask about diets and allergies on your invitation or RSVP
Once everyone is fed, we clear our cooking area.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Live paella in Chelwood Gate: local details
Chelwood Gate is about 6 miles south of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. Across the RH17 area, we can cook for your guests. We cater in 371 places across West Sussex. Our events stretch from Chelwood Gate to Brighton (about 16 miles away).
Historic houses near Chelwood Gate include Priest House (3.8 miles north-west) and Standen (4 miles north-west). Historic venues frequently limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 4 miles of Chelwood Gate, and country venues and gardens there suit live paella perfectly. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Anywhere in RH17, we can bring paella catering to you. Streets in the area include Beaconsfield Road, Stone Quarry Road and Isle of Thorns, and we can cook for an event on any of them. Nearby, we also cater events in Chelwood Common (1 mile south), Birchgrove (1 mile west), Wych Cross (1 mile north), Danehill (2 miles south-west) and Nutley (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Crawley (10 miles north-west), Horsham (15 miles west), Haywards Heath (6 miles south-west), Burgess Hill (9 miles south-west), East Grinstead (6 miles north) and Broadfield (10 miles west).
A little further out are Waterbury Castle (2.6 miles west) and Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (5.9 miles east). Not far away are Brickfield Meadow.
- 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