West Sussex · England
Paella Catering for Cross Gate events
Something for every guest: separate pans for meat, seafood and vegetarian or vegan guests. Live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event for events in Cross Gate.
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Garden parties and summer barbecues
Paella catering in Cross Gate
Paella catering for your event in Cross Gate
Watching it cook is part of the experience. Guests gather round as the sofrito sizzles and the saffron colours the rice, and the smell does the rest. Popular choices include black rice, chicken and chorizo paella and vegan paella, and typical bookings are for milestone birthday parties and naming days and family parties.
Somewhere like Cross Gate, a field or garden is frequently the perfect setting. Mention gates and soft ground when you get in touch. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Area
- Cross Gate (BN18)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Add-ons
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Occasions we cook for in Cross Gate
It suits relaxed, sociable events, where guests can mingle while it cooks before sitting down to eat.
We can help if you are planning any of the following:
- Summer garden parties
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Office lunches and staff parties
Parks such as Parham Park typically need the owner’s permission for cooking, so ask before you plan a party there.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- Any travel, parking or access charges
- How dietary needs and allergies are handled
- If the price includes VAT
A closer look at the menu
Black rice
Arroz negro is coloured and flavoured with squid ink, traditionally with alioli. It makes a dramatic second seafood pan.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Questions from Cross Gate
Do you come out to small places like Cross Gate?
Not at all. We cater in villages and hamlets as well as towns. Tell us about lanes, gates and parking.
Is Cross Gate close to London?
About 44 miles from central London, and well within our area.
Do you bring everything you need?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You just need a suitable spot and access.
How soon do we need to book?
The sooner the better. Popular dates book up first, so it pays to ask early.
Will there be enough food?
We size the pans for your numbers and the rest of the menu. Let us know about any other food. See how much paella per person.
Is paella enough as a main?
Paella is a meal in itself. Tapas and desserts can be added if you like.
Can we choose the seafood?
Tell us your preferences and we’ll suggest seafood options to suit your menu and budget. Premium shellfish can be added.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Mostly outside or under an open cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
Places near Cross Gate
More for events in Cross Gate
Live paella or other catering?
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. The cost per head typically falls as numbers rise, since the set-up is much the same either way. Give us your numbers and we’ll quote.
Why us?
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- Served hot, straight from the pan
- A clear, itemised quote
- Sangria and bar staff available
Read How we price And What paella catering costs.
Catering an event in Cross Gate
Cross Gate is about 7 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Give us the address of your event in Cross Gate, and we’ll plan access and set-up. Cross Gate is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we cook. We cook right across the region, from Cross Gate to Brighton (18 miles away).
Nearby historic houses include Parham House (1.1 miles east) and Old Place Manor (3.3 miles north). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you are booking one. For guests coming by train, Amberley station is about 1.5 miles away. Cross Gate is within about a mile of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours.
We cover events in every part of the BN18 postcode area. Close by, we cover events in Rackham (1 mile east), Amberley (1 mile south-west), Bury (2 miles west), Coldwaltham (2 miles north-west) and Watersfield (2 miles north-west). Further out, we also cater in Horsham (14 miles north-east), Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (11 miles south-west), Chichester (12 miles south-west), Littlehampton (7 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (12 miles south-east).
Other landmarks nearby include Amberley Museum (1.4 miles south-west) and Amberley Castle (1 mile west). Not far away are Bignor Hill and Amberley Wild Brooks.
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
If you do cook yourself, test the pan and burner together beforehand, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it is in. Keep a clear zone around the burner.
Plenty of people try cooking paella for their own party. Common mistakes are mismatched pans and burners, overfilling and stirring. If you’d rather enjoy the party, let us cook.
How the day works
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. In Cross Gate, the sun sets at about 9:20pm in late June and about 7:05pm in late September, so summer evening events are generally served in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 4:00pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- You tell us the date, venue, guest numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- On the day we arrive in good time, set up and start the stock.
- Your guests watch the paella cook, with any tapas served first.
- We serve it hot from the pan and clear our area when service ends.
Preparing for the day
- Name one person we can ask on the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Share the running order, including any speeches
How to get a price
It is easy to get a price: tell us the date, place, numbers and any dietary needs. We will send a clear, itemised quote.
Planning help
Planning the cooking area
Most outdoor spaces and many venues work for live paella, but a few things matter:
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
- Flat, firm ground for the cooking area
- Somewhere close to park and unload
If you are unsure, send a picture of the space and we will say what we think before booking.
Popular choices
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegan paella
- Vegetable paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Mixed paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
Prices and what affects them
Here’s what makes the biggest difference to the price:
- How many guests are eating
- Whether you need crockery
- How long we’re needed on site
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Getting an accurate quote
Here’s what makes a quick, accurate quote possible:
- A photo of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
- What the venue already provides
- Your date and when you want to eat
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal and allergy numbers
Not sure what you need yet? No problem: give us the basics about your event, and we will make suggestions. To start, send us your details through our quote form.
Catering for every guest
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To make it work smoothly:
- Ensure each pan is labelled
- Make sure most guests can sit to eat
- Tell us about coeliac guests specifically
- Tell us how many children are coming
Any staff you book serve and clear, so you can relax.
Bread, salad and lemon go well alongside and suit guests who are not big rice eaters.
- 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