West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in Crawley Down
Looking for paella catering in Crawley Down? We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook while your guests watch.
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Summer garden parties
Book paella catering in Crawley Down
The menu, dish by dish
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, rather than seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Vegetable and vegan paella
Seasonal vegetables on a rich sofrito base make a paella that stands on its own. Vegan versions use plant-based stock.
About our paella catering in Crawley Down
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. Whether it is office lunches and staff parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook black rice, mixed paella and paella Valenciana for your guests.
Around Crawley Down, events are often in gardens, local halls or nearby venues. If the road in is narrow, tell us so we can plan the van. The paella is served straight from the pan, so it is hot and generous, and service is quick once it’s ready.
- Location
- Crawley Down (RH10)
- Area hub
- West Sussex
- Special diets
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Extras
- Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff
- Quotes
- Quoted for your event
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Planning the cooking area
We will be honest if a space won’t work, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- Level ground for the pans and burners
- Confirmation that open cooking is allowed
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
If in doubt, send us a picture of the spot and we will advise.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
Crawley Down questions
Can you cook at venues in the High Weald National Landscape?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We will work to whatever the site needs.
What’s the nearest station to Crawley Down for guests?
East Grinstead station, about 2.5 miles east of the centre.
What happens with live paella?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Should we have more than one paella?
Two or three is usual: a meat or mixed paella, a seafood paella and a vegetable or vegan one. We’ll help you decide the split.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. We use halal chicken and leave out pork and alcohol, in its own pan.
Can we add tapas or canapés?
Of course. Canapé tapas with the drinks, or table tapas to share, served while the paella cooks.
Which paellas do you recommend?
Most events choose two or three: chicken or mixed, seafood, and vegetable or vegan. See the sample menu.
How much paella per person?
Quantities depend on numbers, timing and courses, with a sensible margin. Accurate numbers help.
What paella catering costs
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many staff you need
- How many guests are eating
- Your choice of paellas
- The length of service
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so tell us about the venue when you ask for a quote. Everything is confirmed in writing.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- Anything your venue supplies
- Roughly how many adults and children
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of where we’d cook
Each quote is tailored to your event. Tell us your date and guest numbers, and we will check availability at the same time.
Diets, allergies and planning
We take diets and allergies seriously. Here’s how you can help:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Put allergy details in writing
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can enjoy your guests.
Need plates or staff? We can provide them.
Paella catering around Crawley Down
Crawley Down is about 3 miles west of East Grinstead, in West Sussex. We cater events at gardens, halls and venues around Crawley Down and the surrounding area. We cater in 371 places in West Sussex, from the larger towns to small villages. We cook right across the region, from Crawley Down to Brighton (about 20 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as All Saints Parish Church, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is East Grinstead station, about 2.5 miles east. The High Weald National Landscape is within about 6 miles of Crawley Down. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
Here we cover the RH10 postcode area, so your event can be anywhere in it. Whether your event is on Station Road, Forest Close and Burleigh Way or a nearby road, we will bring the pans to you. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Furnace Wood (1 mile north), Snow Hill (1 mile north), Turners Hill (1 mile south), Domewood (1 mile north) and Felbridge (2 miles north-east). We also cook in nearby towns such as Crawley (5 miles west), Horsham (11 miles west), Haywards Heath (9 miles south), Burgess Hill (12 miles south), East Grinstead (3 miles east) and Broadfield (6 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include Queen Victoria Hospital (3.5 miles east) and Effingham Park Motor Museum (1.4 miles north-west). The countryside around Crawley Down includes Hedgecourt Lake.
- Nearby schools include Imberhorne School (1.9 miles north-east)
Places near Crawley Down
Also in Crawley Down
Working with your venue
If you are planning an event on someone’s behalf, whether you’re a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we are happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It saves passing messages back and forth.
For big numbers, we plan pans and serving points to keep queues short, so everyone eats promptly. Tell us how long you have for food.
Is live paella right for your event?
With a barbecue, food comes in waves. Paella is cooked as one big dish and served together. Tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are optional extras, so you only pay for what you want.
Why book with us
- Plates, cutlery and waiting staff available
- Paella cooked from scratch on site
- Catering across West Sussex, including Crawley Down
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
Take a look at Our pricing And Our guide to catering costs.
Who books paella catering in Crawley Down?
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Almost any gathering can work with live paella. People in Crawley Down book us for events such as:
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Garden get-togethers
Historic houses near Crawley Down include Saint Hill Manor (2.4 miles south-east) and Gravetye Manor (2.4 miles south). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early.
Before booking anyone
- When final numbers are due
- A clear list of what’s included
- Payment terms and deposit
- How bad weather is handled
What happens on the day
We take care of the food from set-up to service, so you can enjoy your event. Any tapas or canapés are served first while the paella cooks. In Crawley Down, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. In December it is dark by about 3:55pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- Get in touch with the basics: when, where and how many.
- Expect a menu idea and a clear, itemised price.
- A week or so before, we confirm the plan.
- We set up, cook from scratch and keep an eye on your timings.
- We serve, then leave our area tidy.
Preparing for the day
- Share the running order, including any speeches
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Get the venue’s permission for cooking
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we’ll put together a menu and price.
Related guides
- 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