West Sussex · England
Paella Catering in East Hampnett
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in East Hampnett. Everything is cooked fresh on the day, then served hot from the pan.
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Wedding breakfasts and evening food
- Family celebrations and christenings
Planning an event in East Hampnett?
Can I cook paella for a crowd myself?
Doing it yourself saves money, but the host ends up stuck at the stove. Booking us means you get the show without the stress.
Hiring a pan and burner is one option, but you will still need to source ingredients, prep and cook for hours. A caterer handles all of that.
Paella catering for your event in East Hampnett
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the smell does the rest. Whether it’s engagement and anniversary parties and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook black rice, vegan paella and vegetable paella for your guests.
Somewhere as small as East Hampnett, a garden or field is frequently the venue. Country lanes and long drives are no problem if we know about them, and a firm spot near where we park makes set-up easier. The paella is served straight from the pan, so every plate is hot, and service is quick once it is ready.
- Location
- East Hampnett (PO18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal
- Also available
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quote
- Contact us for a quote
- Last updated
- 23 October 2026
Also near East Hampnett
More for events in East Hampnett
The process
When the rice goes in, it’s left alone. That is how the grains cook evenly and the toasted base, the socarrat, forms. The smell typically draws people over. Evenings in East Hampnett stay light until about 9:20pm in June, but by late September sunset is around 7:05pm; once it is dark, we need light to cook and serve by.
- We start with a few details about your event.
- We suggest paellas and extras and send a clear quote.
- We agree timings, access and the cooking spot.
- We cook live on the day while guests watch.
- We serve from the pan, then pack down.
How to prepare
- Have a level space ready for the pans
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Tell us where to park and unload
How to get a price
To get a price, fill in our quote form. Give us the details of your event, and we will suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Related guides
What we need at the venue
Every venue is different, so we ask about the space when you get in touch. In general, we need:
- Agreement from the venue or landowner to cook on site
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
- Open air or a well-ventilated covered spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we will tell you honestly.
Menu ideas
- Paella Valenciana
- Seafood paella
- Chicken & chorizo paella
- Vegetable paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Mixed paella
- Vegan paella
East Hampnett: your questions answered
Can you cater a reception after a service at The Parish Church of St Mary?
Yes, at a garden, marquee or venue nearby with a suitable spot to cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is generally elsewhere. Tell us where the reception will be.
Can you cook at venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles, ground and cooking, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Is paella a full meal?
It can be. With bread and salad, paella is a complete main.
Can you cook in the rain?
A covered, ventilated spot keeps us cooking in the rain. We will talk it through before the day.
How soon do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date. Peak dates go quickly, so it pays to ask early.
Do you cater in East Hampnett?
Yes. We cater across London and the South East, and East Hampnett is within our area. To check your date, use our quote form.
Can we choose the seafood?
Seafood choices are agreed when we plan the menu.
Is the paella gluten-free?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we take the right care.
Prices and what affects them
Live paella pricing is straightforward once we know the basics:
- Parking and unloading
- The paellas you choose
- How many staff you need
- Whether you need crockery
Travel, parking and access can affect the price, so it helps to tell us about your venue. The full price is confirmed before you book.
What we need to know
When you get in touch, it helps to tell us:
- A picture of the space, if you can
- Expected numbers
- The courses you’d like
- What the venue already provides
Every event is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually want. For a quote, fill in our quote form.
Catering for every guest
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal guests. To get it right:
- Let us know about other food at the event
- Count adults and children separately
- Choose two or three paellas so every guest has a choice
- Flag any coeliac guests, not just gluten-free preferences
Once the rice is in, it needs about 20 minutes, so we time it carefully. If timings shift, we adapt.
We can add sangria and bar staff to serve drinks you provide.
Events we cater in East Hampnett
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.
We’re booked for all kinds of occasions in East Hampnett and nearby. Popular bookings include:
- Fairs, fêtes and festivals
- Retirement and leaving parties
- Weddings and evening receptions
- Office lunches and staff parties
For guests coming by train, Barnham station is about 2.8 miles away.
Questions to ask before booking
- The venue requirements
- A clear list of what’s included
- Whether travel is included
- Staff numbers and hours
East Hampnett: venues, travel and local tips
East Hampnett is about 4 miles east of Chichester, in West Sussex. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around East Hampnett and nearby villages. We cover all 371 towns and villages in West Sussex. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 25 miles away.
If you are celebrating after a service at a church like The Parish Church of St Mary, live paella at a garden or venue nearby works well. Historic houses near East Hampnett include Goodwood House (2.4 miles north-west). If your event is at a historic house or estate, check its rules on caterers and cooking early. East Hampnett is within about 8 miles of the South Downs National Park. Some venues in protected landscapes have rules about vehicles and cooking, so check with yours. East Hampnett is within about 5 miles of the sea, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Sea breezes can be strong, so we plan a sheltered cooking spot.
We cater events across the PO18 postcode area. From Marsh Lane and East Hampnett Lane or a nearby road, we can cook there. We also cook at events in Crockerhill (1 mile north-east), Norton (1 mile east), Aldingbourne (1 mile south-east), Nyton (1 mile south-east) and Westergate (2 miles south-east). Further out, we also cater in Worthing (13 miles east), Bognor Regis (4 miles south), Chichester (4 miles west), Selsey (9 miles south-west), Littlehampton (8 miles east) and Emsworth (11 miles west).
Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (3.7 miles west) and Tote Copse Castle (1.2 miles south). The countryside around East Hampnett includes Levin Down.
- Nearby schools include Ormiston Six Villages Academy (1.6 miles south-east)
- Pubs nearby include The Winterton Arms Public House (under half a mile north-east)
Why live cooking beats a buffet
For something a little different, live paella brings colour, aroma and a touch of Spain. Got a budget? Let us know, and we will put together a menu that fits. Even a simple menu can be a feast.
Why us?
- Waiting staff and crockery on request
- Sangria and bar staff available
- A clear, itemised quote
- Every diet catered for, pan by pan
See How we price And The cost guide.
What’s in the pans
Black rice
Black rice looks dramatic and tastes of the sea.
Paella Valenciana
Valencians take their paella seriously. The classic version is chicken, green beans and butter beans with saffron.
- 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