West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Coates events
Cooked live, served hot and made to share: live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Coates and the surrounding area.
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
Planning an event in Coates?
Why choose live paella in Coates?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and the food sits out. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll suggest a menu to match. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why Coates hosts choose us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Add tapas, canapés and Spanish desserts
How our paella catering works in Coates
A single cooking set-up can feed a crowd, there’s very little waste, and the food is served hot. That is why it works for so many events. We cook seafood paella, vegan paella and black rice, and we’re frequently booked for staff parties and work lunches and garden get-togethers.
Somewhere like Coates, a field or garden is often the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. Tapas, canapés, desserts, sangria and staff can all be added, so one booking can cover the whole menu.
- Where
- Coates (RH20)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
How the day works
Service is quick: we serve straight from the pan, so large groups are fed quickly. Afterwards we clear our cooking area away. Evenings in Coates stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; after dark, the cooking and serving areas need good lighting.
- First, tell us about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- Timings, access and the cooking area are agreed in advance.
- On the day, we set up and cook in front of your guests.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
Before we arrive
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Give us a contact for the day
- Give us your final numbers and diets
Ask for a quote
We need only a few details to quote: date, location, guest numbers and diets. You can send us your details through our quote form.
Related guides
Nearby places to Coates
More for events in Coates
DIY paella versus live catering
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you’ll still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Think about numbers, diets and how much you want to enjoy the day. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Dishes our guests love
Black rice
Squid ink rice is bold and savoury.
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron, and it is a crowd-pleaser.
How we price paella catering
Each event is quoted on its own, and the price depends on a few things:
- How long we’re needed on site
- The paellas you choose
- Travel, parking and access
- How many guests are eating
Larger events generally cost less per head, because the cooking set-up is similar for different sizes of event. Tell us your numbers for an accurate price.
Getting an accurate quote
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Please include:
- Diets and allergies you know about
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Expected numbers
- A picture of the space, if you can
It’s easy to get a price: share your date, venue, numbers and diets. We will come back with a clear quote.
Organising for someone else?
Venues frequently have their own rules about outside caterers: cooking areas, access times and documents. Send us your venue’s requirements and we’ll follow them.
If you run the same event each year, tell us your dates early, so we can plan ahead.
Questions from Coates
Is Coates too small for live paella?
No, we cook in small places too. Let us know about access and parking.
Is Coates close to London?
Roughly 43 miles from the centre of London.
What if the weather’s bad?
We cook under cover, like a gazebo or open-sided marquee. We will agree a wet-weather plan with you.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in a separate pan.
Do we need to provide equipment?
All cooking kit comes with us. Let us know what your venue has, like tables or crockery.
Do you cook it at the event?
Yes. Every paella is cooked from scratch on site, where your guests can watch.
Do you come to Coates?
Yes, we do. Coates is one of the places we cover. Send us your date to check availability.
How much is live paella catering?
It depends on guest numbers, the menu, the courses, staff and travel. Tell us about your event and we will send a quote.
Planning the cooking area
We will be honest if a space will not work, and help find another spot. What matters most:
- The venue’s permission for live cooking
- A safe distance from anything that could catch
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we’ll advise.
What we offer
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Catering an event in Coates
Coates is about 10 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Coates, and we will plan access and set-up before the day. Coates is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Guildford, about 20 miles away.
Nearby historic houses include Bignor Roman Villa (2.1 miles south) and Petworth House (2.9 miles north-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Fittleworth CofE Village School, can book us as a food stall. The South Downs National Park is within about 4 miles of Coates, a lovely setting for an outdoor event. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
Here we cover the RH20 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Lower Horncroft (1 mile east), Fittleworth (1 mile north-east), Bedham (1 mile north-east), Watersfield (2 miles south-east) and Coldwaltham (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (12 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (12 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (10 miles south) and Lancing (14 miles south-east).
Nearby you will also find Coates Castle (0.5 miles south-west) and Coultershaw Heritage Site (2 miles north-west). Open spaces near Coates include Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
- Nearby, you will find The Swan Hotel (0.7 miles north-east)
Perfect for your event in Coates
People book live paella because it is food and entertainment at once. The cooking becomes the centre of the event, and the food is hot and generous.
In Coates and nearby, we cater all sorts of events. Popular bookings include:
- Birthday celebrations
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
- Christenings and family gatherings
For a christening or wedding at a church such as Church of St Agatha, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone.
Before you book anyone
- How bad weather is handled
- Staff numbers and hours
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- What the caterer needs from your venue
- 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