West Sussex · England
Live paella catering in East Dean, West Sussex
From the first sizzle of the sofrito to the last spoonful of crispy rice, live paella catering, cooked fresh in giant pans at your event makes the food a highlight of your event in East Dean.
- Company summer parties
- Anniversaries and engagement parties
- Milestone birthday parties
Planning an event in East Dean?
About our paella catering in East Dean
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. Typical bookings include engagement and anniversary parties and fairs, fêtes and festivals, serving paella Valenciana, vegetable paella and seafood paella.
Somewhere as small as East Dean, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and cooking close to where we can park helps. Your quote spells out exactly what’s included: the menu, the staff and any extras.
- Area
- East Dean (PO18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Events we cater in East Dean
It needs no kitchen, so it is at home in gardens, fields and marquees where plated meals are hard.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. People in East Dean book us for events such as:
- Christenings and family gatherings
- Company summer parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
Nearby historic houses include West Dean House (2.6 miles west) and Goodwood House (2.9 miles south-west). Historic venues often limit cooking, so ask early if you’re booking one.
What your quote should include
- How each diet is kept separate
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
- Whether VAT is included
- How bad weather is handled
Planning for every diet
Nearly every event has some special diets. To plan for them:
- Put allergy details in writing
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
- Mention any other courses or food
- Plan seating for most guests: paella is easiest eaten sitting down
Paella is best eaten as soon as it’s ready, so we plan service for when guests are ready to eat.
Tapas or canapés make a good start while the paella cooks.
A closer look at the menu
Vegetable and vegan paella
The vegetable pan is a dish in its own right: peppers, artichokes and beans with saffron, cooked in its own pan.
Mixed paella
Mixed paella brings meat and seafood together, and it’s often the first pan to empty.
How the day works
Your timings come first. If things run behind, we adjust the cooking so it is still served fresh. Around midsummer it stays light in East Dean until about 9:20pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:05pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. For winter events, when it is dark by about 4:00pm, we need lighting at the cooking spot.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- You get a suggested menu and an itemised quote.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area 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.
How to prepare
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
How to get a price
To get a price, use our quote form. Tell us about your event in East Dean, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Read more
Space, weather and the venue
If a space isn’t suitable, we will tell you, and help find another spot. The main points are:
- A level, firm spot for the burners and pans
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Outdoor space or a ventilated gazebo
Not sure about your space? Send us a photo and we will tell you honestly.
What we offer
- Mixed paella
- Paella Valenciana
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
More for events in East Dean
Paella compared with other options
Next to a hog roast or barbecue, live paella is easier for vegetarian, vegan and halal guests, thanks to separate pans. It’s served quickly from the pan, so queues move. If you have a budget in mind, tell us, and we’ll put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
What you get with us
- Sangria, plus bar staff for your own drinks
- Options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests, each in its own pan
- Everything cooked fresh at your event
- Real theatre, not just catering
Read How we price Or What paella catering costs.
Prices and what affects them
We’ll give you a clear, itemised quote. What affects it most:
- The paellas you choose
- Guest numbers
- Plates, cutlery and glassware
- How many staff you need
Live paella pricing depends on the event. A garden party lunch and a full wedding menu are very different jobs. We itemise everything in your quote.
What we need to know
For a quote, it helps to have:
- The date and rough timings
- What the venue already provides
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
Each quote is tailored to your event. Give us your date and numbers, and we’ll check availability at the same time.
DIY paella versus live catering
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it’s harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Our guide to cooking paella for a crowd explains how.
Not sure whether to cook yourself or book a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. We’re happy to give you a quote to compare.
Catering an event in East Dean
East Dean is about 6 miles north-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Whether your event is in the middle of East Dean or on the outskirts, we offer the same service: paella cooked live, every diet catered for and a clear quote. East Dean is one of 371 places in West Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from East Dean to Guildford (24 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Parish Church of All Saints, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. East Dean is within about 6 miles of the South Downs National Park. Check your venue’s rules on vehicles and cooking.
We cook at events all over the PO18 postcode area and the streets around it. We can cater an event on streets such as Main Road, Chapel Row and Charlton Road. Neighbouring places where we cater events include Charlton (1 mile west), Singleton (2 miles west), West Dean (3 miles west), Heyshott (3 miles north) and Cocking (3 miles north-west). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (15 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (8 miles south), Chichester (6 miles south-west), Selsey (13 miles south), Littlehampton (11 miles south-east) and Emsworth (10 miles south-west).
Well-known places in the area include Weald and Downland Gridshell (1.8 miles west) and Chichester Centre (5 miles south-west). The countryside around East Dean includes Graffham Common and Levin Down.
- Local pubs include The Star And Garter Public House (within half a mile south)
East Dean: your questions answered
Do you cater in the South Downs National Park?
Yes, though some venues in protected landscapes have extra rules; ask your venue. We will work to whatever the site needs.
Is East Dean close to London?
About 49 miles from central London, and we cover it as standard.
Can you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes, and meat eaters often go back for seconds. Each is cooked separately, with its own stock and utensils.
Do you cook it at the event?
It is. We bring the pans, burners and fresh ingredients and cook on the day, serving it hot from the pan.
Do you do starters?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. Tapas first, paella to follow.
Can the paella be cooked in a hall?
Normally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. We’ll check whether your venue has a suitable space.
How much space do you need?
A level space for the pans, burners and a serving table, outdoors or in a marquee or well-ventilated area, plus the venue’s agreement to cooking.
Do we need to provide equipment?
We bring the pans, burners and ingredients. You provide a suitable spot and access.
- 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