West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Donnington, West Sussex
Love Paella cooks live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event in Donnington and nearby, catering for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests.
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Leaving dos and retirements
- Staff parties and work lunches
Paella catering in Donnington
How our paella catering works in Donnington
One cooking area feeds a lot of people, there’s very little waste, and the food is served hot. That’s why it works for so many events. We are frequently asked to cater fairs, fêtes and festivals and birthday celebrations, with vegan paella, black rice and chicken and chorizo paella.
In a small place like Donnington, events are generally in a garden, a field or a nearby hall. Tell us about narrow lanes or long drives and we’ll plan for them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. We bring everything we need to cook, and pack down our cooking area when service is finished.
- Area
- Donnington (PO20)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Add-ons
- Tapas, churros, sangria, crockery
- Price
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 23 October 2026
Donnington: venues, travel and local tips
Donnington is about 2 miles south of Chichester, in West Sussex. Tell us where your event in Donnington will be, and we will plan the journey and set-up before the day. Donnington is one of 371 towns and villages in West Sussex where we cook. Our nearest city page is Southampton, about 27 miles away.
School fairs and fundraisers, for a school such as Chichester High School For Girls, can book us as a food stall. Historic houses near Donnington include Goodwood House (4.8 miles north-east). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one. The coast is within about 6 miles of Donnington, so a seafood pan is a popular choice. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cover events in every part of the PO20 postcode area and the streets around it. Main roads around Donnington include the B2201, which makes travel to your event easy. Nearby, we also cater events in Hunston (1 mile east), North Mundham (1 mile east), Runcton (2 miles east), Chichester (2 miles north) and Portfield (2 miles north-east). Larger places within reach include Bognor Regis (5 miles east), Selsey (5 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles east), Emsworth (7 miles north-west), Rustington (12 miles east) and Angmering (14 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Chichester Cathedral Treasury (1.8 miles north) and St Richard's Hospital (2.5 miles north). Not far away are Nutborne Marshes.
- Nearby, you will find The Blacksmith's Arms Public House (under half a mile south-west)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
Cold buffets are easy but forgettable, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. Got a budget? Let us know, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. A simple menu can still feel generous.
Why book with us
- A clear, itemised quote
- Real theatre, not just catering
- Starters and desserts to complete the menu
- Catering across West Sussex, including Donnington
Take a look at Our pricing Or Our guide to catering costs.
For planners, venues and organisers
If you’re planning an event on someone’s behalf, such as a wedding planner, an office manager or a festival organiser, we’ll work directly with you and the venue. It saves passing messages back and forth.
If your event is in a public space, such as a park, check what permission you need first. We’ll provide any information the landowner or council asks for.
Why choose paella catering in Donnington?
Few dishes cope with mixed diets like paella, because each version is cooked in its own pan. Everyone gets the same kind of meal.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Donnington, people book us for events such as:
- Summer garden parties
- Retirement celebrations
- Weddings, from canapés to evening food
- Milestone birthday parties
For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Chichester station, about 1.6 miles north.
What to look for in a quote
- Exactly what’s included in the price
- When final numbers are due
- Payment terms and deposit
- Space, access and power needs
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking it yourself? Test your pan and burner first, keep the stock hot, and leave the rice alone once it’s in. And keep children and pets well away from the burner.
DIY catering keeps costs down, but the host spends the party cooking. With live paella catering, you get the theatre without the work.
Step by step
Once the rice is in, we don’t stir it. That’s what gives paella its separate grains and crispy base. Your guests will smell it before they see it. Around midsummer it stays light in Donnington until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening events are typically served in daylight. For winter events, when it’s dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- Send us your date, numbers and venue.
- We plan a menu that covers every diet.
- We arrive early to set up the burners and pans.
- The paella cooks as guests gather round.
- Service is straight from the pan, then we pack down.
Preparing for the day
- Send us final numbers and dietary needs in good time
- Leave space around the cooking area
- Tell us when you want to eat
Ask for a quote
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll confirm whether we’re available that day.
Planning help
Nearby places to Donnington
More for events in Donnington
Planning for every diet
Every guest is catered for, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal included. To get it right:
- Tell us what else is being served
- Collect dietary needs with your RSVPs
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
If you’ve booked staff, they’ll serve, clear and help keep things moving, so you can relax.
Finish with churros, crema catalana or tarta de Santiago.
What’s in the pans
Paella Valenciana
In Valencia, the recipe is fiercely debated. The traditional pan has chicken, flat green beans and butter beans.
Mixed paella
A mix of chicken and seafood, for guests who want a bit of everything.
What paella catering costs
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, because of:
- How long we’re needed on site
- Your choice of paellas
- Guest numbers
- Staff: cooks, waiting staff and bar staff
Extras such as tapas, desserts, sangria, staff and crockery are priced separately, so you only pay for what you want.
What to tell us
The more we know about your event, the better we can plan. Try to include:
- A picture of where we’d cook
- Whether you want canapés, tapas or desserts
- Roughly how many adults and children
- What the venue already provides
Tell us your date, venue or postcode and roughly how many guests, plus any dietary needs, and we will reply with a menu suggestion and a quote. To get started, fill in our quote form.
Your questions about paella catering in Donnington
Is Donnington close to London?
About 56 miles from central London, and well within our area.
What’s the nearest station to Donnington for guests?
Chichester station, about 1.6 miles north of the centre.
Do you clear up afterwards?
We take our equipment and leave the cooking area tidy. Ask us about table clearing if you need it.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We arrive with everything we need and cook it there and then, serving it hot from the pan.
What space do you need to cook?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, in the open air or a ventilated covered area, and the venue’s permission for live cooking.
What is live paella catering?
We arrive with pans, burners and ingredients, cook in front of your guests, and serve when you’re ready to eat.
Do you cater in Donnington?
Yes, we do. We cook at events in Donnington and across West Sussex. Tell us your date and we will check availability.
What if the weather’s bad?
We need a covered spot, such as a gazebo, marquee or open-sided barn with good ventilation. We’ll agree a wet-weather plan with you.
- 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